Chapter seventeen

Harry couldn't stop smiling whenever he saw his reflection in the mirror, his scar was so faint now you could hardly see it. Many students asked why it faded now and not years ago. Harry just said he couldn't explain, but the unspeakables was able to help him.

After their last class of the day, Harry had just stepped into Gryffindor's common room when Angelina handed him a note, McGonagall wanted to see him. He took his bag to his room then hurried to her office.

'Is something wrong Professor?'

'Oh no Harry, something is very right for a change,' she flicked her wand, the door at the back of her office opened, Sirius walked out with Charles.

'Sirius,' Harry got up and hugged his godfather.

'Cleared of all charges, Peter has been sent to Azkaban for life and the ministry is going to compensate Sirius for the twelve years he was imprisoned,' Charles said.

'Thank you,' Harry grinned then hugged his godfather again, 'Did you tell their portraits?'

'Yes, I went to the house before we came here. So your parent's asked me to ask you to invite all your friends to the house for the Christmas holidays.'

'Wow, um, okay, I'll asked Hermione, Ron, Neville and Luna.'

'We would like to speak with Ron so we can explain about his rat.'

'Does everyone know about Sirius?'

'The teachers were informed earlier and a special edition of the Daily Prophet should be making it's way to everyone right now. Before we head to the great hall I have to tell you that Albus Dumbledore has received his summons to appear in court for mail tampering.'

'He'll probably say he did it so I would be safe.'

'That will not matter Harry, mail tampering of any sort is illegal. He could have requested that all mail be checked by curse breakers before being sent on to you, or placed somewhere until you were older,' Sirius said.

'The Dursley's probably would have destroyed everything then kept the money.'

'They will be paying for their crimes against you Harry.'

'I know, all thanks to you Charles.'

'How about we all head up to the great hall,' Minerva said.

'Thanks Professor.'

Sirius kept his arm around Harry's shoulder, Charles and Minerva were on either side of them as they walked through the castle. By the time they came to the great hall, everyone was reading the Daily Prophet.

'Hi, I want all of you to meet my godfather, Sirius Black,' Harry grinned as he took Luna's hand, 'Sirius, this is my girlfriend Luna Lovegood, this is Hermione Granger, Ron Weasley, Neville Longbottom, Fred and George Weasley, fantastic beaters. Lee Jordon who usually commentates the quidditch games. Angelina johnson, katie bell and alicia spinnet, the best chasers in the world,' Harry pointed to everyone until almost all the Gryffindor's were introduced to Sirius, Luna kissed Sirius on the cheek.

'I just read that Peter Pettigrew has been hiding in his animagus form all this time and it was how he escaped that night,' Hermione said.

'Yes, he cut off his own finger before blowing up the street and killing those muggles. He transformed then escaped before the aurors turned up.'

Sirius and Harry glanced at Charles, 'Mr. Weasley,' Charles held out some parchment.

Ron looked puzzled but took the parchment, he read it with Hermione looking over his shoulder.

'Scabbers.'

'Yeah, sorry Ron, we couldn't tell you before.'

'So a death eater has been living in our house for years and none of us knew,' Fred said.

'Wait until mum and dad hear about this,' George said.

'How come his name wasn't on the registry, like Professor McGonagall is?' Seamus asked.

'James Potter, Sirius Black and Peter Pettigrew never registered their animagus forms as they learned illegally while they were students. Sirius has now registered.'

'So you're an animagus Mr. Black, what do you change into?' Neville asked shyly.

Harry grinned up at Sirius who laughed then transformed, 'Cool hey, he looks like a grim.'

The Gryffindor's and the teachers heard screams, Lavender and Parvati both screamed as they backed away, other students screamed, one fainted.

'Oh come on, it's not a grim, he's an animagus,' Hermione huffed.

Padfoot barked then jumped up until his paws were on Harry's shoulder, then he licked Harry's face.

'Ew, Padfoot, don't kiss me.'

'Padfoot,' Fred and George whispered.

Sirius barked again then transformed back, 'That's me.'

'Prongs, Moony, Wormtail,' the twins said as they gazed up at Sirius.

'I have no idea how you know those names, but James Potter was Prongs.'

'You're the son of a Marauder,' the twins shouted, 'They're our hero's.'

'Oh dear merlin, that is all I need, for the troublesome Weasley twins to idolise the biggest pranksters this school has ever seen,' Minerva said.

'How do you know the Marauder's?' Sirius asked, 'No one knew about us.'

Fred and George looked at each other than Fred pulled out some worn parchment, he held it out to Sirius.

'Blimey, I thought this was gone forever,' Sirius stared at the parchment, 'James lost it, he thought someone stole it.'

'What is it Sirius?' Harry asked.

'I'll show you, but Mini, sweetheart, allow this lot to keep it.'

'Don't call me sweetheart Sirius Black.'

'You're still feisty, I like it.'

'Sirius,' Harry glared as Sirius laughed.

Sirius put the parchment on the table then grinned, 'I solemnly swear that I am up to no good,' he tapped it with his wand, 'I present to you the Marauders map, of Hogwarts.'

All the friends gathered around, 'But Hogwarts is unplottable, this should be impossible,' Hermione said.

'Miss Granger, you will find that the word impossible never existed to the Marauders, very similar to the son and godson of one. But at least I finally know how you two seem to sneak around this place without us finding you. I will leave you to it Sirius, just do not go corrupting my students.'

'Never mini sweetheart, but I will turn them into Marauders.'

Sirius laughed loudly as Minerva groaned before she headed up to the staff table, 'So who were the other two?' Ron asked.

'Wormtail was Peter, for his rat form.'

'And I am Moony,' Remus said as he approached, 'Sirius.'

'Remus, I can't forgive you for believing I would ever betray James, Lily and Harry. I know we were suspicious of everyone but we also tried to find out who the spy was. Why didn't you come speak to me? Why did you leave Harry to be abused?' Sirius almost shouted, 'You promised James and Lily to be there for Harry, you didn't.'

'I was lied to, so many of us were, I thought by staying away I was protecting Harry. I only found out when I arrived here that Harry was sent to Lily's sister.'

'My parents are furious with you,' Harry glared.

'How are your parent's angry?' Hermione asked.

'They have portraits, I spent a lot of time talking to them. It was mum, not Victoria that taught me potions, I just couldn't tell anyone before.'

'I was staying with Harry at Potter manor during the holidays. Charles would drop in every few days. But Harry got to learn a lot from his parent's, while I spent the time being force fed chocolate.'

'They want to meet all of you, they asked if you could visit during the holidays. You could spend the night, have a New Year's Eve party at the manor.'

The twins kept staring at Sirius as they nodded, Ron said he would be there, Hermione said the same, Neville wanted to but had to check with his grandmother. Luna was going to get his father to send a permission form to Professor Flitwick so she could spend the entire Christmas holidays with Harry.

'Can we talk Sirius?'

'No, you left Harry alone after losing his parent's, I was gone, he had no one. Too many people do what that old man says without asking questions, this time it has cost you just like it cost me and Harry. I want you to stay away from my godson,' Sirius glared but his arm went around Harry, keeping him safe, but also keeping him protected. Remus nodded sadly before he walked away.

'So this map, you're going to let us keep it?' Fred asked.

'Yep, just share it with Harry, then pass it on to him when you leave, it is a family heirloom. So we'll have to sit down and talk, you can tell me all about the pranks you pulled on the Slytherin's…um, on the other students.'

All the friends laughed, the Marauders pranked the Slytherin's, now the next generation, the Weasley twins, would also pranking the Slytherin's. Harry decided to honour his father by joining in on the occasional prank. He did not want to hurt anyone or bully anyone, but having a bit of fun wouldn't hurt anyone. He already liked the twins canary creams, all of them had at one time been turned into a giant canary, they all had a good laugh. That is what everyone needed especially during the times they were stressed from school work. Now they had the Marauders map which would help them not only prank the students, but the staff as well.

Sirius grinned at the devilish looks on the Weasley twin's faces. He knew those two would honour the Marauders and bring a lot of laughter the Hogwarts, something the original Marauders did often. He would leave the pranking to the twins, while he and Harry got to know each other. They might have the portraits of James and Lily but it wasn't the same as having the real James and Lily. They will always miss James and Lily, that will never change, but they could do what James and Lily wanted, become a family.

The end:

I wish to thank everyone for reading, and hope I can continue to bring interesting stories for the fans of fanfiction.