Chapter Text
“Are you sure you’ll be fine, Cissy?” Sirius sighed. “I mean, don’t get me wrong, we’re really grateful for all the information we’ve been able to get from you and Lucius, but the longer you do it, the more dangerous it gets - and now that Draco is in the mix…”
“We’ll be fine,” Narcissa smiled tightly. “I promise, we’ll pull out before he notices. For now, Lucius thinks we are quite safe.”
“If you say so…” Sirius shook his head.
“Trust me,” Narcissa grinned. “We’ll manage.”
“That’s what Reggie said the last time I saw him,” Sirius reminded him. “And then he disappeared.”
Narcissa winced. “I still want to think he’s out there,” she insisted. “He’s so smart. He probably just went underground somewhere.”
“I don’t know,” Sirius shook his head. “The longer this war continues, the less I believe in miracles, Cissy.”
“We’re Blacks,” she smirked. “We’re survivors.”
It were those words that rang through his mind as he stood in front of Malfoy Manor, incredulously staring at the ruins.
“Sirius,” Dumbledore said. “Thank you for coming.”
Next to him stood Minerva McGonagall, and Andi. He went to her first, enveloping her in a tight embrace. She held on tightly, sniffling into his leather jacket.
“It can’t be,” he breathed. “They can’t be gone.”
She was just shaking her head, not answering.
“It seems like Voldemort went after Draco,” Dumbledore said, making them pull apart to stare at him, aghast.
“Draco?” Andi asked, shocked. “Why?! He’s barely a year old!
“We don’t know,” Dumbledore shook his head. “But he asked Lucius to hand him over. Lucius refused, so he killed him where he stood. Narcissa tried to barricade herself in with Draco, but no spell could hold back a wizard like Voldemort. He killed Narcissa, and then turned on Draco.”
Sirius flinched, tears in his eyes.
“Something happened when he turned his wand on Draco, though,” Dumbledore said softly, and there was a glimmer in his eyes. “The spell rebounded and hit him instead.”
“So… You-Know-Who is dead?” Andi asked incredulous.
“I don’t think he’s dead,” Dumbledore shook his head. “But he’s very weakened.”
“But why?” Sirius demanded. “Draco is just a baby! How would he have defended himself?!”
“I have nothing but theories,” Dumbledore said.
“Oh, we all know your theories are usually correct, Albus,” Minerva rolled her eyes. “So spit it out already!”
Dumbledore chuckled. “Well, all right. My theory is that when Narcissa and Lucius died for him, they created a protection.” He looked at them. “Love is the most powerful magic of all, one that Voldemort never bothered to understand.”
“So Draco… is he alive?” Andi asked.
“Very much so,” Dumbledore nodded, and he turned to the rose garden. There, they could just spot Hagrid with a small bundle in his hands, humming softly.
Sirius and Andromeda were moving before Dumbledore could say anything else. Hagrid looked up as they approached. His eyes were blood-shot, as if he has been crying along with the baby.
“Quiet,” he advised. “He jus fell asleep, poor little fella.”
Draco’s eyes were indeed closed, and he was breathing evenly. He looked so much like Narcissa that it broke Sirius’ heart. On instinct, he reached out to brush his blond bangs away from his forehead, only to find a raw, lightning-shaped cut on the skin. Sirius stared in horror.
“We think the curse did it,” Dumbledore said.
“What will happen to him now?” Andi asked. “He’ll be famous. Everyone in Wizarding Britain will know his name, if not the world.”
“We thought he should go to one of you,” Minerva said softly. “You’re his family. Maybe you, Andromeda? He could grow up as Nymphadora’s younger brother.”
Andromeda’s eyes were wide and she was shaking her head. “I can’t!” she protested. “My husband is still in hiding because of the war! I don’t even know if he’s alive! I have to put my family back together! I can’t take on something as huge as this, too!” She looked at Sirius pleadingly. Sirius was already shaking his head.
“No way,” he muttered. “Andi, I can’t -”
“But you’re great with Harry!” she pointed out.
“I’m his godfather!” Sirius called hysterically, wincing when Draco stirred. “I can drop in, play with him, and let his parents deal with it when he starts crying!” Sirius whispered furiously. “I have no clue what it means to be a parent!”
“You can learn!” Andi shrugged.
“He has to go to one of you,” Dumbledore insisted. “You’re his blood, and Narcissa’s protection is in your bloodline. If he goes to a random family, her sacrifice will have been in vain.”
They were silent for a long moment after that. Sirius looked down at Draco. He was twisting in his sleep. Sirius reached out for his hand, and his little fingers latched onto his pointer and middle finger, holding on for dear life. Finally, he settled, his breathing evening out again. Sirius’ chest tightened. He looked at Draco for a long moment before he whispered: “I’ll do it.”
“What?” Minerva asked.
“I’ll take him,” he said, louder this time. “I mean, I’m probably going to fuck it up, but he deserves a home. He deserves to be with family. That’s what Cissy would have wanted.”
Andi came up to touch his shoulder. “Thank you,” she said, tears in her eyes. “I’ll be there for everything you need.”
“You’ll bet you are,” he said, eyes narrowed. “And so will Lily and James. It’s gonna take a village to help me with his.”
She cracked a smile. “I reckon you’ll be just fine,” she said.
Sirius had just put Draco back to sleep in the new crib he’d put in the upstairs guest room. He’d woken up when he’d been lifted from Hagrid’s arms, then fallen back to sleep halfway back home, only to wake again when they arrived and cry for nearly two hours straight.
Not that Sirius could blame him. He, too, felt like bawling his eyes out.
Now, the poor boy had fallen into an exhausted slumber, and Sirius had sunken into his armchair with a stiff drink in hand.
That was how Remus found him.
“I’ve been hearing rumours,” he breathed, sitting on the arm of his chair. “Narcissa, Lucius, You-Know-Who - is it true?”
“Depends on the rumours,” Sirius muttered. “If you’re referring to the fact that they sacrificed themselves to save their son, and You-Know-Who blew himself up trying to kill him, then yes.”
Remus stared at him before shaking his head. “Who would have thought,” he whispered. “The biggest Dark Wizard of the century, brought down by a toddler.” Sirius hummed. “What will happen to Draco?” he asked. “Will he go to Andromeda?”
Sirius winced and took another long sip of his drink. “About that…” he said. “He’s upstairs.”
Remus blinked. “What?” he asked.
“I agreed to take him.”
Remus was silent for a long moment. “You can’t be serious.”
“That’s literally my name.”
“This is no time for jokes!”
“Will you keep your voice down, please?! It just took me two hours to get him to sleep, and I’ll rip off your head if you wake him up again.”
Remus stood and started to pace. “You can’t take care of a child, Sirius!” he shook his head. “Not with your lifestyle!”
“Well, I guess I’ll have to make some adjustments, don’t I?”
“You don’t know a first thing about children!”
“I have James and Lily for that. I have Andi. They can help. And you know Prongs will move heaven and earth to help out if I ask.”
Remus stared at him with wide eyes, shaking his head. Sirius put down his drink.
“What’s this really about, Moony?” he asked. “I’m not asking you to be involved.”
Remus gulped. “You know I can’t be,” he hissed. “Not with my condition. I can’t be around a child.”
“I’d argue that point, but I know you’d win, so I won’t try. And I’m too fucking tired.”
Remus looked away. “I could never forgive myself if anything happened to him.”
“You could go to the Shrieking Shack for the full moon,” Sirius shrugged. “You know Dumbledore would let you. Or we could find a way to procure the Wolfsbane potion. I have money!”
“It’s ridiculously expensive!”
“I don’t care, okay?!”
Remus shook his head, looking like a cornered animal. Sirius sighed.
“I’m not going to force you to do anything,” he said. “But you know how I feel about you, and if I had the choice, I’d like us to be a family. The three of us. I think you’d balance me out. Be the reasonable parent, keep me from screwing up.” Remus’ lips trembled. “But if you think you can’t do that, I’ll accept that. I decided to take Draco in knowing that I might have to do it alone, and I’m willing to see it through no matter what.”
Remus gulped. “I can’t, Pads,” he whispered. “This boy… He’s too important. I can’t come in and screw it up. They could take him away from you.”
Sirius shook his head. “Fine,” he nodded. “If that’s the way you want it to be, then okay. But then I need you to go now.”
Remus blinked back tears and nodded. Sirius did not watch him leave.
Sirius watched with a smile as Harry eagerly showed Draco his toys. Draco inspected the stuffed dragon he’d been handed curiously.
“He’s so excited,” Lily beamed. “He’s never had anyone to play with.”
“I reckon neither had Draco,” Sirius shook his head.
James clasped a hand on his shoulder and squeezed it. It made Sirius look up and meet his eyes.
“How are you doing?” James asked worriedly. “I know this must have been a lot.”
Sirius gulped. “You have no idea, Prongs. I still wake up thinking it was all a dream.”
“I think it’s great that you stepped up,” Lily insisted. “This little boy is going to need so much love, and I know you have it in you to give that.”
“I thought I was a selfish, reckless jerk, Evans?” Sirius smirked. “I don’t know what to do with such high praise out of your mouth.”
She rolled her eyes fondly. “You’ve grown up a lot in the past couple of years, Black,” she pointed out. “You’ll be a great Dad.”
Sirius felt squirmish at the word, but he tried not to let it show.
“And if you need anything,” James insisted. “I repeat, anything , you know who to call.”
“Even if it’s the middle of the night and Draco’s just thrown up all over the house?” Sirius joked.
“Especially then,” James grinned. “Remember when Harry was ill that one time, and we hadn’t slept in 2 days, and you came swooping in to take care of all of us?”
“Ah, right,” Sirius snorted. “Good times. I’d just come off a nightly stake-out, too.”
“Still, you were there, no questions asked,” James reminded him. “And so will we be, because that’s what friends do.”
Sirius smiled. “Thanks. I knew I could count on you.”
James squeezed his shoulder again in acknowledgement. “When’s the funeral?” he asked.
“Next Saturday,” he said. “Can you take Draco for the day? I don’t think it’s a good idea to take him. Death Eaters are still out there, and they might have it in for him.”
“Of course,” James nodded. “Harry will be happy.”
Harry was currently making barking noises while waving the dragon around. Draco was giggling. Sirius thought it was the first time he’d seen the boy smile.
“Have you heard from Remus?” Lily asked hesitantly.
Sirius shook his head. “He’s not going to be in the picture,” he said simply.
He was surprised when Lily hugged him one-armedly. “His loss,” he breathed, and Sirius had to gulp against the tightness in his throat.
“Come on, Draco!” Sirius pleaded. “I’ll only be gone for an hour or two! You’ll be here with Harry! You like Harry!”
Draco whined and clung to Sirius, his little fingers twisted in his hair to the point of pain.
“You can’t blame the poor boy for having separation anxiety,” Lily said softly. “He just lost his Mum and Dad. He doesn’t understand that you’ll come back when you leave.”
“Well, he’ll have to learn,” Sirius sighed. “I can’t constantly be with him. I’ll have to leave the house one day.”
Harry pulled at Sirius’ trouser leg. “Daco buh-buh?” he asked.
“No, Harry,” he smiled. “Draco is just sad.”
Harry frowned at that. He carefully stood up and made his way over to his toy chest. When he came back, he was holding out the stuffed dragon Draco had liked the last time he’d visited.
“That’s very sweet, Harry,” Lily smiled.
“Yes, thank you so much,” Sirius said, bending down to show Draco the dragon. “See, Draco?”
Draco contemplated the dragon for a moment. Then, he took it and hid his face in Sirius’ shoulder.
“Why don’t you go play with Harry?” Sirius asked. Draco didn’t move. “Lily has biscuits?” Again, no reaction. He looked at Lily and James for help.
James sighed and got up, reaching to take Draco from Sirius’ arms. Draco whined and held onto Sirius more tightly. When Sirius gently tried to disentangle himself, Draco started to scream.
“Bloody -” Sirius began, but James just snorted, shaking his head as he held a twisting Draco tight, somehow avoiding flying fists and feet.
“Just go,” James said. “We’ve got him.”
“You sure?” Sirius asked doubtfully.
“We can handle a toddler’s temper tantrum,” James said confidently. “It will ebb off.”
Sirius sighed and nodded. “Bye, Draco,” he said. “I’ll be back soon.”
Draco just kept screaming. Sirius bit his lip and turned for the door with a heavy heart.
When he returned, Draco was munching on a biscuit and building a rainbow-coloured miniature castle with Harry and James. Well, James was building it; Harry and Draco seemed to delight in destroying it.
“He seems to have calmed down,” Sirius commented, taking a biscuit when Lily offered it.
“He stopped crying after about twenty minutes,” Lily smiled. “Then, he joined Harry and James on the miniature broom in the garden.”
“Ahh, so he’s a flyer, too,” Sirius snorted.
“As enthusiastic as Harry,” she smirked. “They’ll be playing Quidditch together in no time, you’ll see.”
Sirius smiled, watching Draco place the stuffed dragon on the castle and making it collapse, much to James’ dismay.
“How was the funeral?” she asked.
“It was a funeral,” he sighed. “What do you think?”
“Right,” she winced. “Stupid question.” They were silent for a moment before she said: “Peter came by earlier.”
“Peter?” he frowned. “He hasn’t contacted me since everything happened.”
“Yes, us neither,” she nodded. “It was a bit of a surprise. He seemed strange, too. A bit restless.” She raised her eyebrows. “Do you have any idea what that could be about?”
“I have my own problems, Lils,” he snorted. “I can’t worry about Peter’s, too.”
“Right,” she smiled. “That’s true.”
Draco looked up to spot Sirius, then. He immediately kicked the building blocks aside and crawled towards him, not even bothering to get up first, even though Sirius was well away that he could walk if he tried. Sirius smiled and went to pick him up.
“Hello, Dray-Dray,” he cooed, placing a lingering kiss on his cheek. “Did you play nicely with Harry and Uncle James?” As a response, Draco just fisted Sirius’ hair and pulled. “Is that a yes?” he asked. Draco just blinked at him. “He should be talking by now, shouldn’t he?” he turned to Lily unsurely. “Should I be worried?”
“Give him time,” Lily waved his worries off. “Some kids need a bit longer. And maybe he talked before everything happened, but just stopped temporarily. It happens.”
“Should I be doing anything?” he asked.
“Just keep loving on him and make him feel safe,” James shrugged. “The rest will come with time.”
Sirius heard a splash and a delighted squeal. Sirius winced. He’d only left the room for one minute to check on the laundry. Beginner’s mistake, it seemed.
He returned to find Draco drenched in his milk, making splashing noises and waving his sandwich triangle around like a ship. Sirius watched him in amusement.
“Did we shipwreck, Captain?” he asked, and Draco looked up at him with wide grey eyes. He made another splashing sound. Sirius laughed and shook his head. “Come on,” he sighed. “Let’s get you in the bathtub, then.”
He’d just lifted Draco out of his high stool when the doorbell rang.
“Well, who is that?” he asked Draco. Draco threw up his hands as if to say: ‘I don’t know!’, making Sirius’ laugh.
He opened the door with Draco sitting on his hip, still dripping milk all over the floor. He’d expected Andi, or James and Lily. Not many people could pass his wards, after all.
His breath went out of him when he came face to face with Remus, though.
“Hi,” Remus said, looking very pale. “I’m sorry. I know I chose to leave, but I needed to see you. We need to talk.”
He glanced at Draco, and it made Sirius unfreeze.
“Right,” Sirius blinked. “Come in. Don’t slip on the milk trail, our little captain shipwrecked.”
“Shipwrecked?” Remus repeated, his lips twitching.
“That’s our story, and we’re sticking with it.”
Draco made helpful splashing noises to corroborate his words. Remus chuckled, shaking his head. “Looks like you are getting along well,” he said softly.
“We have our moments,” Sirius nodded. “Can we talk while I give him a bath? He’ll be all sticky if I just spell him dry.”
“Sure,” Remus nodded. “Do you need help?”
“If you could spell away the mess on the floor before you follow me, I’d be grateful.”
“Of course.”
Sirius went ahead to the bathroom and started letting the bath and undressing Draco. By the time Remus followed, Draco was already in the bathtub, playing with his actual boat toys. Remus watched him for a moment, a smile on his face.
“Don’t get too close,” Sirius warned. “You’ll get soaked. He has no coordination.”
“I’ll be fine,” Remus shrugged. “I cleaned your kitchen, too, while I was at it. It looked like you could need a hand.”
“Thanks,” Sirius sighed, trying not to feel all warm and gooey the way he usually did when Remus was sweet and thoughtful. He shouldn’t get used to this. Remus wasn’t going to stay. “Why are you here?”
Remus’ smile faded. The little colour that had returned to his face left once more.
“I just came from that big Death Eater trial,” he said. “The one with Greyback?”
“Ah, yes,” Sirius sighed. “I forgot that was today.”
“Some Death Eaters tried to save themselves to give up the names of others,” Remus continued.
“Aren’t they all trying that?” Sirius shrugged, unimpressed.
“One of them named Peter, Sirius.”
Sirius froze. “What?” he whispered, his eyes on Draco.
“They named Peter,” Remus repeated. “Peter was a spy for You-Know-Who.”
“It must be a lie,” Sirius shook his head. “They must have said it to save their own ski-”
“He confessed.” Sirius couldn’t breathe. “He was forwarding information about us. About you, me, Lily, James. He told them the Malfoys were spies.”
Sirius closed his eyes. Different emotions were warring within him: Betrayal being most prominent, but pain, grief and anger rivalling each other in intensity.
Peter was to blame. He was to blame that Draco had no parents any more. If Narcissa and Lucius hadn’t died to protect Draco, would he have betrayed Lily and James next? Him? Remus?
Remus’ fingers closed around his wrist, and Sirius opened his eyes to look at him.
“I made a mistake,” Remus whispered. “When I heard what Peter had done, how close we’d come to death ourselves… All I could think about was how stupid I was being. We made it out. We’re alive. And I love you. I want to be with you. And I’m going to make that happen, and if I have to learn how to brew that stupid Wolfsbane Potion myself!”
Sirius’ heart was racing. “It’s not only about me any more,” he reminded Remus. “I have Draco now.”
“I know,” Remus nodded. “And I’ll be whatever you need me to be. I’ll be your co-parent. I’ll be your partner. I’ll be your emotional support. Just, please,” he reached out to gently touch Sirius’ cheek. “Please let me be by your side?”
Sirius closed his eyes, his throat feeling tight as he whispered: “Thank fuck, Moony. I was trying really hard to be strong, but I don’t know how to do this without you.”
Remus wrapped his arms around him then, and Sirius let himself be held.
“You’re not alone,” he promised. “We’re doing this together. As a family.”