Chapter Text
Perhaps he should have seen this coming the moment he found out that Sirius Black was innocent. Once again, he was forced to face the mistake he had made by not paying closer attention to the boys' friendships in school.
Fourteen years ago, on that terrible evening, Albus had had to face the consequences of not realizing one of them may have been a traitor. Two years ago, he faced the terrible fate he had helped thrust on an innocent man - in his pain and rage, Albus had agreed to forgo Sirius's trial. This choice ultimately led to Voldemort's return.
Now, he had not realized that Sirius would defy him to protect his old friend.
No, that wasn't quite right.
Albus considered the two men before him. Sirius had his arms crossed and chest puffed, head tilted defiantly. Remus was more reserved, looking tired as always but his gaze determined. They stood together in a way that stirred Albus's memory to a time he had stood like that beside the man he loved, unable to openly show affection.
These two were standing on the right side, though.
Albus gave each of them one last appraising look before speaking.
—
[ One week earlier ]
The nice thing about having money was how quickly things happened, so Remus was learning. Sirius had sent the letter to his solicitor regarding Harry just two days earlier, and now they were scheduled to meet. The appointment was to be held at Grimmauld Place. Remus's cottage had been serving as a safe haven and they both wanted to continue keeping the outside world out of it.
Unfortunately, this meant going to No. 12 Grimmauld Place.
Sirius stepped through the floo and into the building for the first time since he was sixteen. Remus followed behind, and soon Sirius felt their fingers woven together.
The place was a tip. Dust thickly coating every surface, black mould creeping up from the windows and ceilings. The curtains were closed, at least, preventing bleaching on the furniture and carpets from years of uninterrupted sun exposure.
"It looks like no one's been here in years," Remus whispered as if they were in a mausoleum.
Sirius was about to make a crack about how the old house elf must have snuffed it when the cursed creature poked his ancient nose through the door. His wrinkled face soured upon seeing them.
"What's this?" the elf muttered, "The nasty, ungrateful swine is back, my poor mistress, how dare he sully her home with his presence…"
"Shut it, Kreacher!" Sirius bellowed before Remus gripped his shoulder, hard.
"Stop it, Padfoot," he hissed, casting a pitying gaze upon the house elf, who had immediately gone silent but was glaring petulantly at them. The werewolf sighed heavily, "At least we know the ownership transferred properly- looks like he's stuck obeying you, poor bloke."
Sirius shot him a glare, "Trust me, I'd much rather he didn't have to - I don't want anything to do with -"
"Then why not release him, Sirius?" Remus snapped, noticing how the elf cowered at the suggestion, "Send him to Narcissa or Bellatrix maybe? Didn't Harry cost the Malfoys their elf - let him serve a family he'd respect."
"He already knows too much," Sirius grumbled, "Dumbledore doesn't think it's safe - and on this I agree. I was hoping he'd died," he finished, glowering at the house elf who only met his eyes with a spiteful glare.
Remus just scoffed and turned back to the sitting room, taking his wand out and beginning the cleaning charms. Sirius dismissed the elf grumpily before storming off, muttering about seeing if he could even cobble together a decent cuppa in this hellhole.
By the time the solicitor was scheduled, the sitting room was looking somewhat habitable. It was a sunny summer day, and the open window at least allowed fresh air into the room and the sunlight brightened the space. The couch, arm chairs, and coffee table were at least clean - with a tea set laid out.
"It's alright, we'll be out of here soon," Remus said gently, rubbing Sirius's shoulder as they stood and waited for the solicitor to come through the floo.
"For now," Sirius growled, "But I'm going to be stuck here for the duration of this damn war…"
Thankfully, the fireplace turned green and Remus was spared from having to think of a response.
The solicitor was a dark-skinned woman with silvery grey hair fixed into tiny braids and then immaculately twisted around her head. She wore robes of kitenge in vibrant blue, indigo, and gold.
She looked around the room with warm chocolate eyes and shook her head, "This place has certainly seen better days, Mr. Black."
"It's been empty since my parents' death, Ms. Juma," Sirius said simply. He made the introductions between Remus and the solicitor, Ms. Anisa Juma, before inviting everyone to sit and offering the tea. At least the manners his parents had ingrained in him could sometimes be useful.
"I know you aren't terribly bothered about preserving the property," she mused, taking the cup as it levitated towards her, "then, your fortune is hardly tied up in it." Anisa leaned forwards, "I admit, I had expected this meeting ever since I heard about the alleged return of He Who Must Not Be Named."
She pulled a leather folder out of a pocket in her robes that was certainly too small to hold it.
"Now, you were finally able to provide me with the Potters' will - which you witnessed," she raised an eyebrow at Sirius, "Did you actually read it?"
"Er… no."
She sighed softly, "I thought not - I wish I had seen it fourteen years ago," she shook her head, "It explicitly states in the strictest legal terms that Harry James Potter was never to end up in the custody of a Mr Vernon Dursley, nor a Mrs Petunia Dursley nee Evans."
"Then can't we use that–?"
"No, they've had custody for too long. Also, I believe I know why Mr. Dumbledore was so adamant about him staying there," she pulled out a piece of parchment and passed it to Sirius, "There is an old blood magic that Lily may have unknowingly invoked, blessing Harry Potter with protection as long as he resides with someone who carries his mother's blood."
"His aunt," Remus said quietly, "That would explain why he wasn't more hunted, why they didn't need more protectors around Privet Drive after what happened, why Dumbledore let him go back there for the summer instead of keeping Harry under his protection."
"Precisely," Anisa agreed, "As such, it is unfortunately vital that he remain a resident of his aunt and uncle's house until his 17th birthday, when the protection will expire."
Remus and Sirius exchanged a look.
"The other point which I imagine you aren't aware of," she began, casting a sympathetic look at Remus, "Is that alongside Sirius Black - another guardian was named. One Remus John Lupin."
The werewolf froze, staring at her with wide eyes.
"There is also a fund specifically set aside to support Harry's upbringing, which would have more than supported a wizard and child to live comfortably without any other income," she added, handing the will to Remus, open to the pages she was referencing.
He took it with shaking hands, tears in his eyes as he read over it.
"Unfortunately, we must tread carefully as the Dursleys would have an argument to access that fund," she said softly.
"Like hell! They had him sleeping in a goddamned cupboard!" Sirius growled.
Anisa shot him a warning look, "Unfortunately, Mr. Black, in muggle courts it is far easier to prove that they had full custody of Harry for fourteen years than it is to prove that abuse and neglect happened."
Sirius nodded and glared down at his hands.
"Do you have a solution?" Remus asked softly.
"That I do, Mr. Lupin," she said with a warm smile, "The easiest way to move forwards is to approach Mrs. Dursley directly and have her agree to share custody with you, Mr. Lupin. She would need to have primary residential custody, due to the protective magic, but you would have full rights to make educational and medical decisions for him. This agreement through the muggle courts is accepted as law in our world."
"Residence also can only mean staying the night, and thanks to magic I am confident we could arrange for you to have Harry most days of the summer even if he needs to spend his nights in Little Whinging," she finished.
"D'you think you can convince them?" Sirius asked skeptically, crossing his arms and leaning back against the couch, "They're the worst kind of muggle."
"I assure you, I have dealt with far more stubborn types," she said with a wicked smile, "My staff are thoroughly trained to pass unnoticed in muggle society and I have the perfect partner in mind to convince them."
The rest of the meeting went quite quickly. There were a few estate issues that needed to be addressed, and then Anisa was bidding her farewells and disappearing back through the floo.
Before they left, Remus was even able to convince Sirius to thank Kreacher for his work. It was through clenched teeth, but it was something at least.
—
Anisa Juma was proven to be a miracle worker, as within days of their meeting they received word that the paperwork was signed and a court hearing scheduled for right after Harry would be returning from school. Certified copies of everything were included. A silencing charm had been cast on Harry’s room, allowing Remus to apparate in and out without the noise being heard by the household or neighbors.
They wanted to be able to share the news, but were also wary about Dumbledore getting wind of it. While they would like to believe he'd appreciate that it was best for Harry, they both had a sinking feeling that he would most certainly not.
This meant just sending an owl was out of the question. There were no more Hogsmeade trips for the year, either.
"We are not using the Floo to contact him," Remus said tersely over dinner of battered sausage from the village's chip shop. They'd spent the day out, with Sirius in dog form, doing their best to keep their minds off everything.
Sirius grumbled for a moment before perking up with excitement, "The mirrors!"
Remus simply stared at him in confusion, so Sirius huffed and continued, "The two-way mirrors that James and I used to talk during detention."
"You did not tell me that you had two-way mirrors," Remus pointed out with a soft chuckle, "You've got both of them, then?"
Sirius chewed his lip for a moment, frowning, "James's will still be in Godric's Hollow," he looked up at Remus with big, puppy like eyes, "Could you find it for me, Moony?"
"Will it respond to 'accio two-way mirror'?"
"Can't see why not."
"Alright, after dinner, then - you'll need to fetch yours as well, Padfoot."
Sirius grimaced at having to return to his childhood home so soon, but simply nodded. It would be worth it.
—
The time after sending the parcel to Harry saw Sirius pacing the floor nervously while Remus read the newspaper. The two-way mirror was sat on the couch next to him, reflecting the ceiling and reminding him that it could do with a new coat of paint.
"It takes time for the owl to get there, Pads," Remus pointed out, "and he probably won't rush to use it."
Sirius just scowled at him without interrupting his pacing.
"Sirius? Erm, how does-?"
The sound of Harry's voice sent Sirius pouncing like a dog after a ball, quickly settling himself against Remus and grinning at the boy who was staring at him in shock.
"Hullo, mate, are you winning?" Sirius asked.
Harry continued to just stare owlishly for a moment before breaking into a relieved smile, "I'm alright, yeh, you?"
"Moony's keeping me well enough."
"Steady diet of dog biscuits," Remus agreed.
"Oh! Professor Lupin. That's right, Dumbledore told you to stay with him," Harry said. The angle on his mirror changed and Sirius realized he was trying to look for the man - he shifted so that Remus could be seen better. "You're both looking better than when I last saw you."
"You look like you've been through the ringer," Remus said gently, "You'll tell Madame Pomfrey if you're struggling?"
"It's fine," Harry mumbled, shrugging, then looked back to his godfather, "Did you want to talk to me? Why didn't you send this sooner?"
"I didn't have them, had to send Remus to get the other one," Sirius explained, leaving off that he'd forgotten they existed, "I did want to talk to you - is now a good time? Are you somewhere private?"
"I should be in Charms…" Harry said with a lopsided grin, "So the dormitory is pretty empty," he held the mirror up to show the room was deserted, "What's going on?"
"Well, first of all, has anyone explained the protection against Voldemort that you have?" Sirius asked.
"Had, he can touch me now," Harry muttered darkly.
"Have - it may not be as strong, but it's still there."
Sirius explained the sacrificial protection, how it was tied to his mother's blood and required him to live with and return to the Dursleys each year.
After finishing the explanation, they waited in silence for Harry's response.
"That explains a lot, I suppose," he said dully, "I don't understand why Dumbledore didn't just tell me this…"
"He's not the most forthcoming person," Remus agreed with a sigh, "He believes it's protection, but I imagine knowing that being there keeps you safe would have done more good than harm."
"Probably worried you'd get reckless and do something daft," Sirius grumbled.
"Like running after Quirrel? Or going alone into the Chamber of Secrets? Or confronting a crazed mass murderer?" Remus asked mildly.
"Exactly, the boy might even end up dueling Voldemort himself if he knew!" Sirius admonished.
Harry snorted a small laugh.
"On that note… we have something to discuss with you that would probably be better if Dumbledore didn't find out," Sirius added firmly. Harry just raised an eyebrow at that. "We believe it's in your best interests - and if you don't agree it doesn't have to happen - but it's possible Dumbledore will try to stop it."
"Also it's better to stay in his good graces right now," Remus agreed with a sigh, "And we really ought to have asked you before we started anything…"
"I did ask him!" Sirius objected, "Back when we met."
"I'll be able to live with you?" Harry asked eagerly.
"Yes and no," Remus said, casting Sirius a withering glance before explaining the steps that the solicitor had taken to establish custody.
"Wait - you, Professor Lupin? You barely know me," Harry mumbled.
"He's spent more time with you than I have," Sirius pointed out, "He was closer to Lily, too."
"You were?"
"Yeah. Back when she couldn't stand James, she and Remus were good friends."
"Wait - my mum couldn't stand my dad?"
"They met when they were very young, and took a few years to warm up to each other. Your dad had some growing up to do," Remus explained, his cheeks pink, "By seventh year they were inseparable. They loved each other, and you, very much."
"Oh," Harry said with a small smile, not entirely sure how to feel about it all but still glad to learn more about his parents.
"Remus is fairly convinced that you wouldn't want a werewolf for a guardian," Sirius added, rolling his eyes.
"Why not?"
"Because sometimes he's a numpty," his godfather said sagely, grinning at the sandy haired man whose face had gone even redder.
"We'll go ahead with the plan, then?" Remus asked nervously.
"Yes, please," Harry said with a smile, "I won't tell Dumbledore or anyone - but are Ron and Hermione alright?"
"To be safe - please don't tell anyone until after the court hearing," Sirius said gently, "And we'll keep the mirror on hand. So if you need anything, or just want to chat, we'll be here - alright?"
"Okay, thank you," Harry glanced over to the side of his bed, "It's nearly time for Defense Against the Dark Arts to start - we haven't got a teacher anymore so someone might come in. I should probably go."
"Make sure you catch up on the Charms lesson you missed!" Remus called through right before the glass turned back to a normal mirror.
Sirius just looked at him with a smirk, "Staying on message there, professor."