A/N: I know, I know. It has been too long. I'll make it short since I know you all want to read. I had mid-terms then I had writer's block, and the fact that I wasn't in the mood to write anything remotely happy didn't help either. If you don't remember what you wrote, I'm sorry. Look back...if you want.

Alexandria Wood- Thanks, glad you like it and I hope you also liked how it ended.

A.Dee- Hey, I couldn't just let him off the hook so easily.

anarian- I personally like both of them. I just have more passion on angst stuff, but I glad you like the second one.

Kakashi-San- Glad it's your taste. Sorry for taking so long. Stupid writer's block. To your question, my primary language is Chinese or more specifically Cantonese.

DarkWish- He was cute in that chapter? Ok...if you say so. Well, he's almost lost it once but Sirius isn't a killer. Hope you like how it turned out.

Someone Reading- Feed him hot soup? I guess that might help... As you can see, I haven't killed Sirius. That would be too sad. Anyways, this was suppose to be the 'happy ending' and if I were to kill Sirius, I would've done so in the previous chapter. Sorry for the delay, hope you enjoy this last installment.

Tara6- Well, I did put 'alternative ending' in capital letters. Sorry you were confused.

hi- Here's it is. Thanks for reading.

Lady Arwen of Rivendell- Remus is fine as you can see. They worked things out. Anyways, thanks for al your reviews. I'm going to miss them. P.S. No, I am not good enough to be in a school for writing. This site has way better writers than me, but thanks nevertheless.

A.J. of Gryffindor- Sorry for the wait. Here it is.

Phat Truffles- I know what you're talking about. I have improved a lot. A LOT. Thanks, I tend to get passionate when I write scenes like that.

mirynda- Thanks, hope you don't hate me for taking so long... :)

A-rose-for-Padfoot- He's fine now. Doing what he likes, settling down with Harry, no need to worry about our Padfoot.

Daughter of Black- 'The calm before the storm', that''s so true. Thanks for reading. Sends my platonic love back. ;)

Warnings: graphic horror image, violence, emotional scenes (can't write a chap. without those!), and an extremely long chapter

Part of this chapter has not been edited, so excuse me for any typos. I wanted to post it as soon as possible. Whatever mistake will be fixed later.

ALTERNATIVE ENDING, PART II

[CH65]- Deceitful Mind

Remus' House

The sound of fist against wood drew Harry's attention. He was staring out at the window next to the desk, lost in the beauty of its color and placid serenity. However, he was thrown back into reality, once again wishing all his sorrows would go away. The weather was radiant today, with the sun shining brightly and with the absence of dark storm clouds. In fact, it was the arrant reverse of his feelings. Suddenly, the environment outside didn't seem that beautiful to look at anymore. It disgusted him. Here it was, in all its glory stood the brightly lid sky, mocking him, and taunting him because he felt the complete opposite. And as we speak, his mood is plunging deeper into the living darkness.

The knocking on his door became more insistent.

"It's not locked," Harry replied melancholy.

Back to Sirius

His voice ringed through Reamo's ears, and it was like a bucket of cold water had been splashed at him, waking him instantaneously. Thankfully, he was facing the wall instead of the gate, or else he would've woken up to a furiously glazed pair of eyes. Sirius was abnormally patient even when Reamo pretended that he hadn't heard him.

"Hide under that blanket, that's right, hide. You coward."

Anger inflamed in Reamo at being called a coward. Sirius knew that that was the one thing Reamo couldn't stand to be addressed as. He finally climbed out of his 'bed' and came face to face with an equally infuriated Sirius.

"You've got som' guts comin' here," said Reamo, determined not to appear frightened by the mere presences of the man he messed with.

A bitter smirk emerged on his lips as he stood closer to the bars--the only barrier that's keeping him from killing the prisoner inside-and he stared down at the shorter guy. Sirius bent down, his face only inches away from Reamo's.

"Enjoy the dark, because that's all you'll be seeing for the remainder of your life."

"O-oh y-yah? Not a chance, man. I'll be out in a 'eartbeat. You ain' got no proof, so you can't keep me here."

"Well, for a man who believes that,... you don't sound very confident about it," said Sirius, who was surprisingly calm for his usual inability to mask his anger.

Sirius smiled at the flicker of fear that was beginning to surface on Reamo's face. Though that smile was gone as fast as it had came.

"You can't prove it. You ain' got nothin' on me. No one knows 'bout what I did 'cept ya. Like I said, I will be out in a 'eartbeat. And there's nothin' you can do 'bout it."

Sirius scoffed.

"Keep thinking that Reamo, but let me tell you, it's not going to do you any good. Denial is a common defense, clearly of the desperation type."

Obviously, Reamo was walking on dangerous grounds. Of all the years he had raced against Black, everyone and anyone who knew about the motorcycle world, knew that Sirius Black, aside from his racing skills, had an uncontrollable temper. If Black was angry, he'd be sure to let you know. Right now, Reamo couldn't figure out if Black's newfound calmness was a good or bad thing because honestly, he has never seen the man in front of him act like this. He was calm yet threatening at the same time. This scared him. It scared Reamo, big time.

However, that didn't stop Reamo from talking.

"You just wait an' see. I'll come out of this with no casualty, and I'll get away from having hurt your godson."

In a matter of seconds, Sirius has manage to grab onto Reamo's shirt collar in between the bars.

"Reamo, you have no idea...what...you're...messing with," said Sirius, his voice seething of fury. "I could've killed you. Do you even know what you've done?"

At that point, Reamo was able to rip himself from Sirius' grasp. He backed up to make sure that Sirius couldn't reach for him again.

"Y-you're crazy!" Reamo shouted.

"No, I'm protective. There's a difference, you see. I don't go around messing up people's lives, but I won't stand around and take the beating either. This is actually sad, for you. From what I can gather during the time when we used to race, you were a person that I could respect."

Reamo was surprised at what he heard. Sirius Black respected him?

"You never once came up to me in my victories to badmouth me, nor did you disrespect me by making lame excuses on why I won over you, which is more than I can say about the other racers I've faced. Instead, I remember that one time where you came and congratulated me. We shook hands, and that meant that I respected you as a worthy competitor."

In retrospect, he admired Sirius' skill as a racer. He was the reason Reamo pushed himself to worked so hard in an effort to be as good as he was or better. Reamo couldn't help but be internally happy about what his rival thought.

"I would never have guesses that you could stoop to as low as you've sank."

Reamo looked at him as if he had been slapped on the face. He frowned.

"You're not the same person I knew back then. I may not have known you that well, but I was almost positive that you were incapable of such actions."

'It was your fault I did what I did,' Reamo thought.

"What makes me sick is that you're happy about what you've done. You're happy that my godson, Harry is mentally weak. This has affected him considerably and I don't know if he'll ever be the same. If Harry doesn't get better, you better hope you end up behind these bars for life, because I won't be able to control my actions and I won't be able to stop myself from finishing what I had started at that lake. Hope that Harry gets better. Hope for your sake because I will never forget this. Nor will I ever forgive you."

With that said, Sirius began to walk away from Reamo's cell and toward the guard that waited a few feet from him.

After his long time rival left just moments ago, Reamo slumped down against the cell wall.

'I don't regret a single thing I've done. Who the hell does he think he is?! I'm not going to fall for his trick to make me feel guilty. This isn't over. I will get him one day. Somehow.'

Back to Harry

Remus opened the door slowly. Harry was sitting at the desk, looking at the direction of the window, fist clutched together. Taking notice of this, Remus went further into the room and sat on the edge of the bed.

"How are you holding up?" he asked.

"Fine," replied Harry, still staring elsewhere.

Remus sighed.

"Hey look, I know there are some people that want to see you." Remus continued when Harry chose to remain silent. "Ron and Hermione asked about you. You haven't seen them for a while and they miss you. Are you ok with them visiting?"

"Yeah," Harry replied, emotionlessly.

"Great. I'll tell them."

Remus then observed that Harry was fingering something continuously. A letter. A letter with a very brazen handwriting. Remus was startled when he found himself face to face with Harry's cold eyes. Then he turned back to his previous object of vision the next second without saying anything. Sensing Harry's unvoiced notion, he got up from the bed and started to leave.

"If you need anything, I'll be downstairs. And Harry, that means anything at all. I'll even be your ear," said Remus, encouragingly.

Seeing that he would not receive a response, he walked further toward the door. Just as he was halfway out the door...

"Is Sirius here?" asked Harry, catching Remus off-guard.

He turned around to see that Harry was facing him, desperation visible in his voice.

"No, he went out," answered Remus.

Harry looked back at the window as if he hadn't spoken at all. But precisely when Remus decided to leave again, Harry spoke once more.

"Can you stay? I- I need to get something out," asked Harry, timidly for some reason.

"Yeah, sure."

He reentered the room, and closed the door as Harry had instructed. He went to sit on the bed once again, unsure of Harry's motives. Hopefully, this is where he'll spill his guts about all the things that's been bothering him.

"Thanks," said Harry.

"For what?" asked Remus.

"For being here. For caring."

"You know, Sirius has done nothing but worry and care for you since you've woke up. Why don't you talk to him?"

"I-it's complicated. There's something...something I can't bring myself to tell him, but I feel like I'm going to burst if I don't tell anybody soon," said Harry, exasperated.

"Then tell me. Whatever it is you've been keeping shut about isn't doing your mind any favors. If you need to let it out by me, that's fine."

"Remus."

"Yes?"

"Can you promise me that you won't tell Sirius what I'm about to tell you?"

"Why not?"

"He can't know. H-he just can't."

Remus knew he wouldn't be able to keep it from Sirius, but Harry needed this. He'll deal with it later, Harry is more important.

"I won't tell him."

Later in the Afternoon

Slamming the door shut, he took off his leather jacket and hung it up. The living room was empty and the house was drowned by silence.

"Moony! You home?!" he called.

When he received no answer in return, he walked around. There was no one in the dining room, nor the kitchen. On his way, he grabbed a beer can from the fridge and headed up the steps. Seeing that Remus' room was opened, he walked forward. He was sitting at his desk holding something in his hands and swaying it up and down. Sirius' knocking pulled Remus from his daydream.

"Hey," Sirius greeted.

"Hey."

"How's Harry?"

Remus swallowed. "He's sleeping. I gave him some potion for the cramps he was getting in his leg and they made him drowsy."

Sirius nodded. "Good, he needs to rest," said Sirius taking a sip of his beer. "What are you doing, mopping around here in your room?"

"Uh...just thinking."

Sirius waited, he knew the signs. Remus has something heavy on his mind, and it involves him.

"We talked."

"Who? You talked to Dumbledore?" asked Sirius, confused.

"No. Harry and I talked."

"Oh," Sirius replied, disappointment in his tone.

"Yeah..."

Sirius frowned. It was a good thing that Harry talked but he was hurt that Harry talked to Remus about it instead of him.

"Well?"

"And he-uh asked me not to tell you."

Sirius' frown deepened.

"And are you?"

"What?"

"Going to follow through with that."

Remus didn't know which to choose. Now that Harry had confided in him, he knew exactly why Harry didn't want Sirius to know about it. He was in the middle, and it was a bad situation to be in. Sirius looked at him expectantly. Remus sighed, not knowing what to do. If he told Sirius, he would probably freak out, be enraged, overreact or all of the above, and in addition, Harry would never trust Remus again. On the other hand, if he doesn't tell Sirius, then Sirius will be mad at him. He was also positive that Sirius will somehow find out about it sooner or later.

Staring back into Sirius desperate eyes, Remus heaved loudly.

"Sirius, I...think it's better if you found that out yourself."

====================

The rhythm was in parallel strides as the pounding of the sky's tears crash down upon the darkened earth. Streaks of arduous imperilment lights the heaven.

'Plat!

Plat!

Plat!'

One by one, they all collided, drops and drops of water splattered all over the place in which it fell. The combination of the force of the wind and water chilled him as he was standing casually under the existing madness of nature. As opposed to the black penumbra on the reverse side of the street, he shivered in the cold. His back was slouched as he approach the mysterious penumbra whose face was hidden all too well under the barren moon. As he approached further to it, a feeling of dread coursed through his body. The figure he was in close proximity of, stood under the torrent rain as he did...but it seems that none of it even came close to touching it. The figure was as dry as the sands of the dessert.

"W-who are you?" he called out, his voice barely heard through the sounds of the torturous rain.

A loud bang distracted him. Turning around for a second, he saw the burned tree that was just struck by the dangers of the pitch black sky, lightning. Shifting back to his previous stance, the penumbra has vanished. Surrounding him now was the cold rain that has soaked through his shirt, and crawling on his pale skin. Under the threatening sound of thunder, his dubiousness eyes searched for it. Then in his most vulnerable moment, he felt a light touch on his shoulder. Since he was not expecting it, it made him jump, his heart pounding against his chest in fear. Slowly, he turned to face this strange penumbra. Only, it wasn't so strange. The figure removed his hood.

"Sirius?" he gasped.

Indeed, it was.

"W-what's going on? Where are we?" asked Harry.

"Shh. You're not safe here," he whispered so softly that Harry strained to hear his words. "We need to find a place for you to hide. Come on. Follow me, and hurry."

He found himself tense up and turned numb as a sudden chill surged through his body, and this chill was not from the cold. Seeing this, he grabbed Harry's hand and dragged him toward an old looking tavern. Once they were inside, he was lead behind the bar counter.

"Duck and hide here for now," said Sirius, urgently.

He let go of Harry's hand, and headed for the door they had entered from.

"Where are you going?" asked Harry, worried.

"To make sure that you'll be safe from them."

"No! If it's dangerous out there, you need to stay too!"

"No, I can't. We'll both be in much more danger if I stay. Trust m-"

Sirius stood there, numb as ice, motionless as the dead, and eyes cold as the lifeless.

"Sirius?"

What happened? All he remembered was a bright flash of light behind Sirius, then he became...frozen. Harry looked up, the facial expression on his godfather's face was so lifeless. He was terrified.

"No!"

He reached forward to touch Sirius' hand, and cringed at its coldness. There was no reaction. His throat was suddenly very dry. His heart was beating so murderously painful against his chest in trepidation.

"No!!" he cried once again.

He reached to touch Sirius' face, and stared in horror as it starts to deteriorate right before his eyes. One by one, pieces of skin on Sirius' face, arm, leg, everywhere.... begin to crack and peel. Then to his absolute horror, red-he saw redness...bright red blood was pouring out of his eye socket...

=====================

"AHHH!! AHHHH!!!"

Not a second sooner, Sirius burst through the door and into Harry's room. His first sight was of Harry's frail pale face, and the fear in his eyes. He was shaking, breathing heavily, and sweating profusely.

"Harry, what happened?" Sirius asked.

But Harry took no notice of Sirius' words and keep rocking back and forth, and clutching his knees tightly against himself. Sirius reached forward, wanting to hug Harry to him. He reached to comfort him but...

"Don't," Harry whispered, ever so softly.

Remus who was in the shower came running into Harry's room half-wet. Noticing Harry's current state, he shot Sirius a confused look.

"Did something happened here?" Remus asked.

"I don't know," Sirius answered, still looking worriedly at Harry.

Then Sirius mouthed a 'I'll handle this' to Remus, who responded with a nod and left the room.

"Harry, what happened?" Sirius asked, again.

Harry wouldn't look at him, terrified of what he'd see if he looked his way. Unfortunately, he could still see the image fresh on his mind and it felt so unbelievably real. Real enough to make him want to tear that image from his head at any and all costs. Sweating as if it was a hundred degrees inside the room, he buried his face in his arms.

Exasperated, Sirius gripped both of Harry's shoulder in an effort to get his attention. However, it failed since that only caused Harry to stare down.

"Please Harry, tell me what happened," he urged.

Sirius unsure of what else to do grabbed Harry and pulled him into a comforting hug. At this, Harry immediately became tense. Sirius could feel it. He expected Harry to ease up after a while but he didn't.

"Let go," said Harry, rigidly in Sirius' arms, "I- can't do this."

Sirius was confused, but he let go. He intended to find out what Harry's problem is, tonight. No more waiting around, he needed to know, now. Not tomorrow, not the day after, and not a week later, now. This has gone on for far too long. It was time to find out the truth.

"Leave."

Sirius was taken aback by Harry's sudden calmness of what he just said. No matter, he wasn't going to let this go. Not tonight. Not anymore.

"Leave. I don't want your comfort."

Sirius didn't move, he just stayed on the spot that he took.

"No," he finally replied.

"I want to be alone."

"No," Sirius said, more forcefully this time.

He could tell that Harry was losing his patience.

"Get out!" Harry shouted. 'Why won't he go away?!'

"Enough of pushing me away. I know you're hurting but you've got to tell me what is it that's causing you this pain. I'm not going anywhere and neither are you until we get to the bottom of this, until you tell me what's been bothering you all this time. I'm trying to understand what's going on with you, and you're not making it very easy."

"Have you thought that maybe I didn't want you to understand?!"

Harry looked up then, and for a moment, Sirius thought he saw anger in those emerald green eyes.

"I don't know what you're feeling half of the tim-"

"You're right. You don't know what I'm feeling!" Harry shouted.

Sirius was caught off guard at Harry's sudden outburst.

"Who's fault is tha-"

"No, I don't want to listen anymore. Stop forcing me to talk because this isn't easy for me either. You think I want this?! You think if I tell you everything, it's going to be all better? Well, it's not! You have no idea what I'm going through. I'm tired! I'm tired of being afraid to go to sleep every night knowing that I'd see you in my nightmares deteriorating, bleeding, and dead right before my eyes. I'm tired of feeling like I'm suffering from paranoia, looking behind my back all the time. I'm sick of the way I feel and I'm sick of crying alone at night because I can't tell anyone about it! I shouldn't have told Remus and I shouldn't be telling you! They're my problem. Mine. Not yours, not Remus and not anybody else's!"

"You're wrong. Your problems are my problems as well. Especially since you just told me that your nightmares involve me. I hate seeing you like this. I hate seeing that something's tearing you apart inside and not knowing what it is-"

"WELL SORRY! I'm sorry that I'm behaving like I am! I'm sorry that I can't hide my feelings or put on a fake smile just so 'you' can be happy!"

"Harry, that's not what I mean-"

"Then what do you mean, huh?! I just want to be left alone. Why won't you just go away?"

"Because I can't. Why won't you let anyone help you? I'm here for you. I 'want' to help you, but you're not letting me or anyone else for that matter."

"You wouldn't have wanted to know. You all think that you can help me. No one can help me. They're all stuck in my head like memories that won't go away. I relive them every night, and it hangs on my mind during the day."

Sirius was stunned. He had no idea that Harry was dealing with things of this magnitude, and he was more determined to help Harry than before.

"I'm sorry that you have to go through that."

"I don't want you to feel sorry for me. I don't want sympathy. These...problems...I will handle them by myself like I have been."

"No, you won't. Stop assuming that we can't or don't want to help you. You're not even giving us a chance. Maybe things aren't as hopeless as you think they are. Maybe there is a way to get rid of them. But if you don't even try, how will you know? You have come through so many things, you can't give up now."

Sirius didn't think he was getting to Harry. Reasoning wasn't enough. He ran his hand through his hair unconsciously. What else could he say to convince Harry? What else could he do?

"I-I just can't believe that involving anyone else in this will make a difference," said Harry sadly. "You don't need to feel that you need to help me, just because my parents put you up to it. Nobody needs my burden. I-I'll deal with it. Myself."

"How? By doing what you've been doing? Crying alone at night? Hiding from me? And don't ever think that I feel the need to help you because your parents put me up to it."

"But it's the truth. You're only doing this because you were made my godfather. It's your...job."

Sirius cringed at Harry's tone. Did he really believe that? That he only want to help because he felt responsible as his godfather?

'No, he's just trying to drive me away,' thought Sirius.

He's right. Harry knew better. It was hard saying those things to Sirius, but he had to. He had to drive him away. 'Sirius doesn't deserve my problems.'

"It's not true and you know it. The reason I'm doing this is because I care about you."

Harry chuckled bitterly, dejectedly.

"I'm sure you do," Harry said, in a serious/ sarcastic way. "But you can stop now. Don't complicate your life with my problems. It's not worth it."

"Would you stop with this 'my problem' crap?! You said so yourself how miserable you've been keeping it inside. I only want to help you let it out, but you've been too blind to see that I willingly want to help. I want to help. Do you hear me? Have you any idea how this is affecting me, having to see your sad and fearful face everyday? All I want was to be there for you and you push me away like something you're too scared to deal with or too annoyed with. I'm sorry if I seem like such a burden to you, and I'm sorry for wanting to help. I'm sorry that I care too bloody damn much about you. You want me to leave you alone? Fine. If that's what you want, fine. I'll leave you alone. I'll back off."

He stood up to leave Harry's room. He stopped at the door and looked at Harry who started looking back down at the bed sheets. His voice softened as he spoke.

"I'm sorry you don't feel like you can trust me enough to let me help you through this. I don't want to lose you."

With those words leaving his mouth, he left Harry alone with his thoughts.

'I may be backing off, but I refuse to give up on you. I refuse, Harry,' Sirius thought, as he lied down on his bed that night.

Harry's Room

'This is for the best. This is for the best.' That's what he's been telling himself since Sirius left. But it wasn't. It wasn't for the best. It was far from it, he needed Sirius badly yet he kept pushing him away.

It was confusing to try and figure out what's in his mind. HE didn't even know what he was really thinking. Why did things have to be so complicated? Harry was lying on his bed in the dark, trying to decipher his reasoning for the way he's been treating Sirius. And for hours, that's what he occupied himself with.

Those who are close to him tend to get hurt. Tend to suffer.

'I've already put my friends and Sirius through enough. He was kidnaped because of me. Ron almost died the first year he met me. And everyone else I know, they had a fair share of misery. I can't let anything happen to them again. Not on my account.'

Finally, at three a.m. into the early morning, the reasons became clear, so clear that he scolded himself for not having figured it out ages ago. It had nothing to do with the images of his nightmare, but it had everything to do with the nightmare's unspoken message.

He was afraid of getting too close to him. Afraid of depending on him. Afraid of dragging him down with his own problems.

Because he was afraid of losing him.

The question now is: Is protecting your friends and family worth their misery?

If the question had been different, he would've known the answer. If it had been his own misery, than it's a simple yes. He knew that by alienating himself from them also hurt them. 'They are too close.'

How are you protecting someone when you make them miserable? Are you willing to sacrifice their happiness to protect their physical form? But protecting only their body means not protecting them at all. The body is just a shell without the mind. And without hope and happiness, a person is as good as dead.

Maybe it wasn't his choice to make. And maybe he'd made the wrong choice.

Is protecting your friends and family worth their misery?

Sirius' Room

Shifting and turning in his bed, he couldn't find a comfortable position. It didn't matter, he wouldn't be able to sleep after that fight he had with his godson. Ultimately, he stopped trying to find a comfortable position and just settled for lying on his side, and wrapping his arms around his pillow. At the sound of the creaking that his door made, he closed his eyes pretending to be asleep. Meanwhile, he could sense a presence walking closer to him.

"Sirius,...you awake?"

"No," he said with eyes closed.

Sighing, he opened his eyes to find himself looking back at the pair of emerald green eyes he's seen through his best friend's girlfriend eyes for years. Except the fact that the one's he's staring into are Harry's.

"Can't sleep?"

"No."

"Me either."

Sirius looked at Harry's shadowy figure standing awkwardly in front of him. He couldn't believe he could love this boy as much as he did. Maybe it was because he was the last remnants of James. Maybe it was because he had promised to protect him for as long as he was alive. Maybe it was because he was his godson. No, those are all the wrong reasons for him to love Harry. When he looked really hard at the person in front of him, he didn't see him as James' son or his godson.

Instead, he sees a young boy who feels lost in this world, who feels that anyone who loved him had abandoned him, who feels that he was not good enough for this world, that he didn't belong, and that... made Sirius' heart break. By no means is he inferring that Harry's weak, because he's anything but. He's strong, and he has hung in there for this long. For that, Sirius was proud. But for anyone who's human, who has human emotions, cannot face life alone for the rest of their lives. If they can, then they're not really human.

Sirius tugged on Harry's arm and pulled him closer. He padded the other side of his bed, calling Harry to lie down next to him. When he did, Sirius turned to lie flat on his back, so he was looking at his ceiling. Harry did the same.

"I'm sorry."

Sirius inwardly smiled. Maybe Harry is finally coming to his senses.

"It was wron-"

Sirius silenced him. Him admitting that what he did merits an apology was enough.

"You don't have to explain."

"Yes, I do," said Harry, with determination.

Sirius made a gesture that said 'fine, explain.'

"You should've left me already. I don't know why you or anyone for that matter would stick around me. I'm nothing but trouble and the only thing I'm good at is putting people that I love in danger. I- I didn't know what to do anymore. I thought that I what I was doing was protecting you guys. I didn't want to depend on you and get too close to you, because I was afraid to feel that pain again if I ever lost you. I was pushing you away because you're the closest thing I have to a parent and losing you would mean the end for me."

"I know you care for them, for me. But you can only make the right decision for yourself. It's not your fault that we get hurt."

"But it is-"

"No, listen to me. It wasn't your decision that Ron and Hermione stayed friends with you. They knew what they were getting into by doing that. It's also not your fault for whatever that has happened to them. You weren't the one hurting them."

"Indirectly, I am."

"Ok, if you say you were the cause of their suffering, then tell me, did you intentionally want to hurt them? Did you tell Voldemort to go after your friends? Did you tell him to go after me? Did you?"

"No.."

"Then it wasn't your fault. I know how terrible it feels if anything happened to the people I love, if anything happened to you. But we don't control what transpire in our lives. No one controls that."

"But Voldemort wouldn't have come after any of you if it wasn't for me!"

"So in the meantime, it's ok to torture yourself by separating yourself from all the people that you love and who loves you. Life is hard enough without you adding to it. You're only making this more difficult for yourself. Look at me Harry."

Sirius turned him around so they faced each other. Placing his hand on Harry's shoulder, he held his gaze to Harry's seriously.

"I know I can't promise you that I will be there all the time or that you're not going to ever lose me, because then, I'd be promising lies. It's not up to me but if it was, I would promise you all of that...and more. This is life and there are risks, some worth taking and some not. That's what life is all about, making a choice to decided whether something is worth the risk or not. I'm afraid of the same things as you. I don't know what I'd do if I had lost you, which I came too bloody close to. Now that you're here, I try not to think about that, because I know that there's always going to be that risk. If I worry all the time, then I'd be insane. Harry, what I can promise you is that I'll always be here for you as long as I'm breathing. It doesn't matter where I am as long as I'm living on the same planet. If I'm across the country and you need me, I'll come right over, even if it mean splitting myself in pieces from apparating from such a far place."

Harry smiled. "You'd do that?"

"Sure. I might be missing...a few body parts but since I promised I'll be there, I will," said Sirius, glad that the mood is finally changing. Then he became serious again. "All I'm asking Harry, is for you to take this risk with me...if I'm worth the risk to you as you are to me."

"Why are you doing this?" Harry asked.

"Because I love you and I care about you. I don't know why, but I do and I'm not going to question it. Realize something, Harry, we're not seers, we can't predict the future. We have to do what makes us happy right now and not worry over what might or might not happen. This is how people make regrets. They think too far ahead, which is not a very good decision at all. Risks are scary, but some are worth it. You are worth it. So, will you take the risk with me?"

Harry looked back at Sirius' hopeful pair of eyes. Was Sirius worth the risk? Of course, but he was scared. Scared that this risk will just become the worst choice he's ever made. Sirius face dropped when Harry didn't answer back.

"Don't doubt things, Harry. Just think about this question. Am I worth the risk to you?

"Yes."

"Then that's all that matters," said Sirius, then he yawned.

"Tired?" Harry asked.

"No, it's," Sirius leaned over to look at the clock,"five a.m. in the morning and I'm not one bit tired," he said sarcastically, then he yawned again.

Moments later, he found that his only reply was a soft snoring. The corner of his mouth curved up at Harry's sleeping form as he pulled the blanket over him. Then he also fell asleep without much effort, feeling more at ease than he's ever been for months.

Next Morning

"Awww....look at them."

"Shhhhh! You'll wake them up!"

"I'm not surprise if they do, when you're shushing so loud!"

"You're not that quiet yourself, bossy."

"Would you two get away from there? I have breakfast."

"AS good as your cooking is, Remus, I would have to say that it has to wait. This is too good to miss."

"You are declining food?! Something's definitely wrong with you! Come on, we should leave them alone."

When Ron didn't budge, Hermione had to dragged him away by force.

"OW! Don't pull the ears!"

"I wouldn't have had to if you came willingly. Besides, you can tease them about it later," she reasoned.

"Fine," he pouted.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Meanwhile...

Harry was almost positive that he heard something. Suddenly, his eyes popped opened. For a moment, he wondered where he was, not recognizing his surroundings. His neck was hurting as if he slept at a bad angle all night long, and he realized that he had when he clumsily fell from the side of the bed, landing with a 'thud' on the hard wooden floor.

Lying painfully on the floor, he groaned, not in any hurry to move any part of his body. Now the only thing he could do was look around, and it didn't take very long to remember where and why he was where he was. Harry was surprised that his embarrassing fall did not wake Sirius up. Knowing that he couldn't stay there all day, he sat up, the stiffness of his neck returning. With one hand supporting his rigid neck, he walked around to Sirius' bedside. He shook Sirius with his other hand.

"Wake up," he called.

Sirius didn't move. Harry grudgingly remove the hand from his neck so he could shake Sirius' immobile form harder...and Sirius landed on his side of the floor with a 'thud' that sounded identical to his own. Harry stifled his laughter for pushing Sirius too hard. He heard a loud grunt from the other side of the bed, and hoped that Sirius wouldn't kill him when he got up from his current position on the floor. Then he heard another 'thud' that sounded like Sirius had hit himself against his bed.

"Bloody bed!"

Harry had to clamp his hand over his mouth again to stop from laughing out loud, but even through his palm, some of his laughter escaped into the open air. Then 'morning Sirius' grumpily grabbed the side of the bed and pulled himself up. When he saw Harry trying to hold his laughter on the other side of the bed, he glared at him. Then realization reached his eyes and he launched at Harry who managed to run out of his room and out of his grasp. Sirius groggily stood up, sleep still in his eyes, and he went after Harry.

When Sirius couldn't find Harry, he decided to go back inside and take a much needed shower.

Thirty minutes later...

Sirius came out of the bathroom refreshingly cleaned, and wrapped in a towel. He went to the closet in search for a pair of his pants. When he couldn't find one, he walked outside his room and looked down at Remus from the railing.

"Hey Moony, where did you dump my pant?"

"In the washroom!"

That's when he notice that Ron and Hermione eating breakfast at the same table that Remus was.

"Oh, hello. Didn't know we were having guests," said Sirius, unfazed by the lack of clothes covering his body.

Hermione noticed this and she blushed. She said 'Hi' back without looking up.

"Hey Sirius."

"Hey Ron, knew I wouldn't find you doing anything else," he teased.

"Hey, can't blame me. Unlike Harry, I don't have you to cuddle with. I just have food," Ron teased back.

"What are you talking about?"

"Oh, nothing. Just that you and Harry looked pretty comfortable this morning. Right, Hermione?"

"Um...right," answered Hermione, still not looking up.

Sirius then knew what they were teasing him about. But he didn't mind, Harry was on his way to becoming Harry again. So, no complains.

"Ron, if you're jealous, just say so. Excuse me while I go find my pant and retrieve Harry," said Sirius, leaving.

"Bloody hell, he wasn't even embarrassed!"

"Padfoot there isn't easily embarrassed. He's an expert at turning the spotlight back to the person," said Remus, taking another bite of his toast.

"Unfortunately."

Upstairs

"Harry? Are you in there? I promise I won't do anything to you for pushing me off the bed."

There was no answer but Sirius knew that Harry was in there. Why? He didn't know.

"Harry?" he called again. "I'm coming in there."

He slowly opened the door and stepped in. It was empty. The bed was unused as it was supposed to be. He noticed a slight breeze blowing into the room, swaying the curtains. He sighed before walking over to the wide-opened window. Meticulously, he climbed out of the window and stood on the bricks just outside it. Reaching for the side of the pipe that's attached to the wall, he started climbing up to the roof. Once on top, he found it hard to disturb the figure sitting on the edge of the roof with an almost peaceful demeanor there. Almost. But for anyone who could read eyes, they'd think otherwise.

It felt good. The wind blowing through his already disheveled hair was such a comfort. He should've come up here sooner. Too bad good things don't usually last. He knew someone would find him up here sooner or later. He knew who that someone would be. He knew that that person was right behind him, waiting for the right moment to make his move. He felt that someone bending down to sit next to him. Why did he feel so...unhappy? He had worked things out with Sirius. Yet, he didn't feel the way he thought he would. He didn't feel that much better.

"It's nice out here, isn't it?" asked Sirius, staring at the clouds.

"Yeah. It is."

The pair fell silent again, not wanting to upset the other by saying something wrong. Finally, Harry decided to say something to break the silence.

"I wish it would last."

Sirius nodded, understanding what Harry meant. He wasn't talking about the nice whether, not exactly anyways. He wish he knew how to convince Harry out of his doubts.

"It could," answered Sirius, taking on a calmer approach.

"It won't," answered Harry, with a subliming certainty.

"You need to stop doing this to yourself, Harry."

"I know..."

"Keep doubting the enjoyable things in your life, and you'll be miserable forever. I wish I could tell you that life can be certain. But you know better than anyone else that life's the most unpredictable and volatile thing."

"I know. I want to feel happy, but every time I do become happy, I couldn't help but think that this won't last."

"I know, I used to feel the same way." Sirius pulled Harry to him, and it was then did he realize how broken apart Harry is. He looked so small while he buried himself against Sirius' chest. Harry had lost so much hope that he doesn't ever just see the good things in life without thinking about something negative. Sirius was determined to make things better. Now that Voldemort's gone, he will show Harry what it's like to be content, to really be truly happy. Even for a day, for an hour, or even a minute, he would prove that it exists.

"Come on, Hermione and Ron are waiting inside. Don't you want to see them?" asked Sirius.

Harry lifted his head and said "no" before falling back on Sirius' chest.

"You are so mean, Mr. Potter."

Harry softly laughed through Sirius' shirt. Then he lifted his emerald green eyes to Sirius' brown ones.

"Don't call me that. Only Snape does that and I'd rather not think about Mr. Grease Head at this moment...or at all."

"Sorry," said Sirius, not really sorry at all as indicated by the sly grin on his face. "So, can we go now...Mr. Potter?"

"I am not speaking to you for the rest of the day," said Harry hotly, though he had a smile on when he said it.

He roughly pushed Sirius away. Then he went down and headed back inside, with Sirius following closely behind him.

Two Weeks Later

"Are you sure you don't want to stay here?"

"For the last time, Moony, I'm sure. Besides, if I wasn't, then I wouldn't have moved all my belongings over there. I'll miss you too, but this is just unnecessary. We're not moving across the world, we're just moving back in Godric's Hollow. You can apparate there anytime you want, so stop whining. I swear I've never heard a werewolf whine so much!"

"I was not whining. I only asked you a simple q-"

"Yes, a simple question that you've been asking me all day every hour since last week!"

"Such an overactive imagination, Padfoot. You should really consider finding a career where you can express that innovative side of you. Go on, Harry's waiting."

"Yeah, yeah. Now you tell me to go. Grab my duffle, would you?"

"Sure, since your hand is obviously occupied," he said sarcastically.

"I told you that I was going to pick up Seeker."

"Why? Harry already has you. He doesn't need another dog snuffing his butt."

"I'm insulted."

"And why did you go name him Seeker? That's unbelievably unoriginal of you."

"Moony, when have you become so sarcastically bitter and uncharacteristic? If this your way of revenge because I am moving, then you can drop it. I've already asked you if you want to come live with us, but you didn't want to leave your old-looking-wooden-house."

"Hey, hey, hey...no insulting the house. You were just living here, so be grateful."

"Right, sorry. So, I'll meet you and Harry there?"

"Yeah."

"Great. I'll see you in a few."

========================

It's been months since the last time he stepped foot at the place he considered home. A place that felt like home more than the Dursleys' had ever been. There was no denying it, he had missed it. More than he would've liked to admit. But he missed it like hell. When he began his fifth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, he had no idea that he would be spending most of the year out of it.

Sleeping in his four poster bed, eating all his meals in the great hall among his fellow Gryffindors, dreading potion class with the Slytherins, wondering who will be the next Defense Against the Dark Arts' professor, dreading the many foot long essays, dozing in History of Magic, hanging out with Ron and Hermione, sneaking into the kitchens at night, getting in trouble, getting detention, making late night visits to Hagrid's, playing Quidditch,... they all seemed so long ago, and it was.

Oh it was. So many things had changed since then. Like meeting his father whom he'd never thought he would have the chance to meet and finding out about his grandfather, Surlon. Unfortunately, the majority of the changes were not desired. In the past few months, nothing was ever the same the second he made the choice to go to Azkaban to fight. If only he knew then and chose otherwise, everything would have been different.

He has been gone for so long that people wondered if he would ever return. That's why when he did make his return, a week after settling in with Sirius in their new house(it wasn't home yet), the reaction of the students were remarkable. His Gryffindor friends welcomed him back with smiles and grins, hugs and kisses. Others whom he didn't quite knew also welcomed him back with warmth. He wasn't sure what to make of that since they really didn't know him. False warmth? Real warmth? Most likely false warmth. They only knew his name. Harry Potter. "Our...new....celebrity." That was what the-ever-so-bitter potion master called him in his first year. Maybe that was why. They had missed their celebrity. But he didn't care.

He was back. Back where he wanted to be. Back where he was supposed to be. Even the extra attention he received, because of his sudden return didn't bother him like it used to. There was also one last thing that the trio agreed on, Hogwarts was so much more peaceful with 'that slimy git Malfoy' (in Ron's words) gone. And although he didn't have much time to relax, having to take more classes than anyone else in order to make up for his long absence, he was glad to be back. Things were returning to normal. Or at least as normal as it'll ever get for Harry Potter 'the boy who lived', which he did, yet again. But at what cost? A cost that's much more than he what he was willing to pay for. Sometimes, his mind wonders. What if he hadn't been 'the boy who lived'?

Once in a while, he would be able to remove himself from the sorrows that has not left him and forget about that simple yet symbolic imprint on his forehead. When he was alone though, he would run his hand over it. Over the lightning bolt shaped scar that has made him such an infamous figure in the wizarding community. The scar that gave him his reputation before he could earn one for himself. The scar that has made him Harry Potter to the world. Harry Potter. Not Harry. Harry Potter. Only a few knew Harry. Many just thought they knew Harry when in reality, they only know the Harry Potter that they had all made him out to be.

Their hero.

Their savior.

Ha.

He'd laugh in their faces if he had forgotten his manners. It was such a dense world. A world that praised, loved (or at least claims to) and even worshiped him, before he even knew of their existence. He hardly even remembered that night, yet people loved him for it. As far as he was concerned though, that day was nothing to triumph over. As far as he was concerned, it was the day that took his parents away from him...forever. The day that he was abandoned. Intentionally? Maybe not. Abandoned? Definitely. If he had a choice then, would he have rather join his parents? Probably.

He would never forget the day a giant showed up at the doorstep with the first 'present' he has ever gotten for his birthday. He wouldn't forget how the knowledge of a world he had never dreamt about could exist, and he hadn't dreamt that he would be in the center of it all. It was a world he learned that would change his life forever, and it did. He loved it and he hated it at the same time. It was the world his parents grew into, but having lived without the knowledge of its existence for all those years, he sometimes questioned whether he truly belonged there. So many attempts at his death had been made since he entered a world that was once an unknown to him. His life had been so much sampler with the Dursleys'. Better? No, not better, only sampler. Did he belong here? He didn't know, because the truth is, he is still looking for the answer to that very question that has plagued his mind.

"Harry. Harry?"

"Hey pal!" called Ron, slapping him on the back.

"What?" Harry asked, broken from his trance..

"Something wrong?"

"No. So, what were you guys talking about?"asked Harry.

"We were thinking about giving Hagrid a visit," said Hermione.

"Oh."

"Well?"

"Yeah, are you going to join us? I know you've seen him around, but you never did get around to drop by his hut," said Ron.

"I know. I just have too much to do. Since the O.W.Ls are coming soon, they're pushing me demandingly, hoping to catch me up on everything I missed before then."

"But that's absurd! They expect you to catch up a few months of work in such a short time?" said Ron.

"Ron, the O.W.Ls is an important exam. I don't blame them for working Harry harder. You only take them once," said Hermione.

"Right, like it's Harry's fault he's been knocked out for so long," said Ron, bitterly.

"Guys. It's alright, Ron. I don't really mind the work."

"You don't?" said Ron and Hermione at the same time.

"No,...I don't. I've been doing nothing for so long now that it was getting to be quite a bore."

"Mate, nothing is more boring than writing parchments of essays."

"I'm not turning into Hermione, if that's what you're worried about. I'd rather be busy, you know...to keep my mind off of other things."

"Hey! There's nothing wrong with enjoying to learn and practice magic," Hermione retorted.

"No offense, Herm, you over do it," said Ron.

"I do not! I only do what is necessary to guarantee a perfect score on the O.W.Ls!"

"Come on, you know you're smart. No need to prove it to us. We believe you," said Ron.

"For your information, I don't need to prove anything to anyone!"

Harry was tired of hearing them argue over stupid things. Some things really never change. If only this wasn't one of them. Tuning the voiced of his two best friends out, he thought about how much things have changed, how much Sirius has changed his life. After finding James' letter that told them of their inheritance of a house in Godric's Hollow, they had decided to settle in.

It was a huge house and they had it all to themselves. Sirius especially found a liking to the large garage, where he kept his Xarion and was turning it into some M-bike headquarter. Both of them had their own room, preferably on the same floor since the house contained two. Although it seemed too empty for two people to live in, they had found ways to occupied themselves when they were together. Harry sighed inwardly, his life was finally turning around. Maybe things will get better, maybe not, but he knew one thing was for certain - Sirius would be right there beside him for whatever obstacle they encounter.

With the continual bickering of his two best friends, Harry smiled, thankful that he was here with them. The thought that a few weeks ago he could've died and never see them or Sirius again was scary. Now though, he would try to make the best of everything.

"Herm, you are such a snotty know-it-all! I'll bet you love to spend time doing homework more so than spending it with us!"

"That's not true! Unlike you, Ron, I at least don't waste my time drooling over food!"

Harry groaned, he love his two best friends very much, but sometimes during moment like these, he just wanted to throw both of them into the lake.

Two Years Later: Hogwarts

4:00 P.M.

"Where is he?" asked Hermione.

They were in the common room, just about ready to leave on their trip to Hogsmeade. However, Harry still hasn't come down from the boys' dormitories.

"Ron, go check on him, will you?"

"Alright," Ron answered.

He trotted up the steps to the dormitories. Harry's bed was empty as the other four-poster beds were. So, there was only one other place Harry could possibly be. Ron walked passed all the beds and made his way to the back of the dormitory, stopping himself right in front of the closed restroom door. He raised his hands, seconds away from pounding his fist against the wooden door when Harry appeared before him. He pushed Ron's fist down from its fixed position- a mere inches away from his face - and walked out of the restroom.

"What the bloody hell was taking you so long?" asked Ron.

"Why so impatient?" Harry asked back.

"Because the whole school is leaving! And if we don't hurry, they'll leave without us!" said Ron, more annoyed than ever.

"Relax, you're acting like a first year," said Harry, calmly.

He took a jacket from his trunk and slipped it on. Then he went over to his night stand and picked up the watch that once belonged to his father, and slipped that on as well. In the meantime, Ron was nearly fuming that after having told Harry that they would be late, Harry was still taking his dear sweet time to put on whatever accessory he wanted. When he was ready, Harry led Ron out of their dormitory.

Downstairs, Hermione was siting in a sofa chair waiting for them. When she saw Harry, she stood up from the chair and walked towards them.

"What's going on?"she said.

Ron then joined her, both of them heading to the common room exit. Harry, however, walked over to the fireplace. When they realized that Harry did not follow behind them, Ron and Hermione turned back around.

"Are you bloody mad? We have to leave," said Ron.

"Wait," said Harry, his gaze on the fire in the empty common room.

"Wait for what?" asked Ron, now curious.

"You're acting quite strange, Harry," said Hermione.

Just then, the fire in the fireplace burned more brightly, as if dancing in excitement.

"Wha-" Ron begin, but was cut off.

"Well," said a voice.

Ron and Hermione stood in shock when Sirius appeared through the fire.

"I guess from your faces that Harry hasn't told you," said Sirius.

In the two years that had past, Sirius has become considerably less lanky and more muscular. His hair was shorter and he grew a lightly trimmed goatee on his chin. In addition, he has also gotten tanner from his current career. Not that anyone could see it though, since he mostly wore a black t-shirt and a jacket over it.

Harry grinned, and walked over to give Sirius a 'manly' hug. Sirius ruffled Harry's tousled hair in return. They were almost matching in height. Harry, now a seventh year at Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry was the heartthrob of the school. Taller and more built now due to Quidditch and Sirius' constant insistence at going to the gym to get 'buffed up', Harry became one of the most wanted bachelors. Never one for attention, Harry couldn't really care less. He believed that being fit was essential since he was the captain of the Gryffindor quidditch team and not because he wanted girls to goggle at his well-toned body. Ron however, was still the tallest out of them. Hermione often told Ron that he could be a basketball player. Having no idea what that meant, Ron usually shrugged it off and give Hermione the 'I don't know what the bloody hell you're talking about' look.

"We're not going to Hogsmeade. Sirius has asked Dumbledore permission to take us away for the weekend," said Harry.

"Well, why didn't you tell us mate?" asked Ron.

"We thought you were just taking a long trying to organize your hair," said Hermione, smiling.

"Er, no. I've learned not to tamper with my hair. It's impossible," said Harry.

Of all the time that they had spent with Sirius over the years, they've learn that the bloke was crazy about his hair. Obsessed even. At first, Harry was surprised at Sirius' extensive knowledge of hair care products, but even with his knowledge, he knew not to mess with Harry's.

"You know, I would love to discuss all of James' failed attempts to tame his hair with you guys, but I'm afraid we haven't got time for that now," Sirius said, his own hair perfect to the last strand.

"Where exactly are we going?" Hermione asked.

"I'll tell you when we get there," he said.

He reached inside his leather jacket and pulled out a lighter. Seeing their puzzled expressions, he answered their confusion with a simple answer, "portkey."

"On three," Sirius instructed.

He held the lighter out and they all placed their hands on it.

"Ready?" They all nodded. "Alright then, three!"

Suddenly, they were all jerked off their feet, an invisible force dragged them forward. They sped through what seemed like a hollow tunnel, air whooshing through their hair. Then the next second, it all stopped and they all fell onto solid ground. Ron who was on top heard someone groaning.

"Ger-offfff," said the muffled voice.

He immediately got off and helped Harry up. Hermione and Sirius was already standing up.

"Are you alright?" he asked.

"Yeah," Ron said.

"We're fine," Harry answered.

They were all distracted by loud noises all around. It was dark but they could hear deafening screams, people were shouting and yelling.

"Where are we?!" Hermione shouted, hoping that she could be heard through the noise.

Sirius just smiled and waved his arm to tell them to follow him. He lead them away from the crowd that seemed to be oblivious to everything else except for the field ahead of them. As they walked, the three of them noticed that a dog-like creature was following them on the side.

"Why is it following us?" hissed Ron, trying not to alarm the creature as they followed Sirius towards a tent.

Sirius turned around when he heard them.

"Don't worry about them. It's a crup. They're security here."

"A what?" Harry asked.

"A Crup! I know what those are," declared Hermione.

"Enlighten us," said Ron, with fake enthusiasm.

The three of them looked at the creature that's following them from afar. Most muggles would probably mistake it for a Jack Russell terrier...except until they see their tail. The crup's tail is has a fork-like shape.

"They're creatures that are very loyal to witches and wizards but they're very fierce and vicious toward muggles, and they eat almost anything," said Hermione.

"They're security? But they're so small," said Ron.

"Never judge anything by their size. I assure you, they're very dangerous when need to be," said Sirius.

When they reached a tent, Sirius went in first while the trio followed. Once inside, they noticed that the tent was not empty.

"Moony, glad you could make it," said Sirius, walking forward to 'hug' his friend.

"Wouldn't want to miss you race," he answered. "I see you brought company."

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

9:30 P.M.

Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Remus was trying to adjust to the loudness of the place. They were now near the front of the crowd, looking down onto the field that everyone had been surrounding. On their way there, they saw posters that displayed a motorcycle with the words "Strider races tonight!" All attention was directed back to the speaker as his voice boomed over the mob of excited witches and wizards.

After they left, Sirius remained in the tent to get ready for the night's event. His whole body was covered in invisible goosbumps, but that only increased his exhilaration. Beside, he always felt like this before the race. This is what he wanted to do, and now he was doing it professionally.

"Black, you're up!"

Sirius grabbed his gloves and slipped them on. He then took his black helmet as well, holding it with one hand. His eyes landed on the covered object on the corner of the tent. In a swift second, he pulled the cover off to reveal his M-Bike. Expertly, he climbed on, gunned the engine as it roared to life and drove after the guy. As he neared the entrance, he could hear the roaring of cheers and excitement. There were titanic lights over the intricately designed 'arena', illuminating the whole place. It was at that moment that he realize how much he wanted this. It gave him a rush like nothing else.

"This is nice."

Sirius spun around at the voice, catching the figure who stood in the shadow. Slowly, the person came forward, light hitting her face as she came closer. When she was inches away from Sirius, she smirked.

"Might want to pick up your jaw from the floor there, Strider."

It took a while for Sirius to register what just happened before he too formed a smirk on his face.

"Didn't expect to see you so soon," he smiled.

"I know. Since when have I made an appearance expectantly?"

"Never."

"There you go then. So...," she said, looking around. "...you seem to be doing good. And I see you've got my message. I fixed it up myself. When I found it, the outer cover was pretty messed up. The engine was even worse off. I couldn't even get it to start. It's good you hadn't wasted my hard work."

"You should know me well enough to know that I treat my bike better than most wizards," Sirius smirked.

"Glad to hear that. Cuz if you messed up the Xarion, I would've messed you up."

"Yeah, I'm glad we agree on this."

Sirius was tired of the small talk and walked over to her and gave her a bear hug.

"Arg! Let go, you big ass!"

Sirius kissed her on the cheek quickly before letting go. He had to laugh at her pretend disgusted face.

"You know how much I hate that!" she said, a bit red.

"I love you too, Karve," he laughed. "And since when do you check out my arse?"

"Since you became one!" Karve retorted.

"Ouch," said Sirius, feigning hurt. He then turned more serious, only little. "How did you get in here?"

"I have my ways," she replied mysteriously.

Just then the loud speaker came on with the voice of the host.

"Witches and wizards, we bid you welcome to the Wizernal M-Bike Race! All you blokes and ladies are in for a show this evening. Because tonight, an international will be joining us, along with our pro-biker, Black!"

Sirius' ears perked up at that announcement. An international? Why wasn't he informed?

"I wanted to tell you in person," the voiced answered his unspoken question.

He turned his head toward the brunette who had a smug smile as she started walking back into the shadow. Moments later, she reappeared with her own M-Bike. It roared with power as she positioned it next to Sirius'.

"Impressive," Sirius said, checking out the bike.

"But not as impressive as mines," he added, revving the engine just to prove it.

"You wish, Strider, you wish."

Then she drove off, taking him by surprise. When his name was announced, he too sped after Karve. It was going to be a hell of a race. He looked at the watch on his left wrist, 9:50. This was going to be a long night and one hell of a race.

Midnight

"That was great!" commented Ron.

"Thanks Ron," Sirius replied.

His head and face was dripping wet from the sweat. His hair has gone in a complete disarray. Part of it was flat from the helmet he had on.

"Here," said Remus, handing Sirius a towel.

"Where's Harry?" he asked.

As if on cue, his godson appeared with a bottle of water. He threw it at Sirius, nearly hitting his head with it.

"Trying to kill me?" he asked, opening the bottle cap and took a long swig of water.

Harry didn't answer. He just looked at Sirius with this expression.

"What?" asked Sirius, catching that look.

"Who's that girl you raced with?" he asked straight out.

Taken aback from Harry straightforwardness, he recapped the bottle of water to look at his godson.

"An old friend," he answered, honestly.

"I want to meet her," he said, seriously.

"Why?" asked Sirius, confused by Harry's sudden change in demeanor.

"I want to meet the girl that my godfather so obviously fancies," said Harry, smiling now.

"W-what?"

"You heard him," Remus piped in.

"Uh, you guys are nuts. I don't fancy anyone. She's a friend and a friend only."

"Un-ha...sure, whatever you say Sirius," said Ron.

They got him now. Sirius was starting to turn a shade of red, and Ron smile widened.

"Give him a break. He's just had a brutal race," said Hermione.

"Yeah, let's go. I'm sure he wants to sleep in his own house, now that Harry's here. My couch was starting to become Sirius' permanent bed."

"It's not like you complained, Moony," he replied snidely. "Let's get out of here, I'm drained."

"I'll see you tomorrow, mate," said Remus.

Sirius only nodded as he led Harry, Ron and Hermione away from the racetrack.

"Hey Sirius, this was one of your best race. That girl was good though. She nearly won."

"Yeah, nearly," Sirius emphasized the word 'nearly'.

A few minutes later, they were back inside Sirius' tent. There was a fireplace on the side.

"Uh, we have guestrooms in out giant mansion for you two. Just say Godric's Hollow."

One by one, they each grabbed a handful of floo powder, dumped it into the fire, and shouted their destination. When it was only the two of them left, Sirius placed a hand on Harry's shoulder, stopping his movement.

"Did you have fun?"

"Yeah. You're very good. I'm happy that you something you like to do."

"And um, if you still want to meet that woman I raced with, come to my room later," he winked.

Unconsciously rubbing his naked left wrist while he talk, he knew Karve would find him that night. After all, she had his watch. He smiled and jumped into the fire that will transport him to Godric's Hollow.

Later that Night: After meeting Karve

"She's...outspoken," said Harry, sitting on the side of Sirius' bed.

"Very. Let's not talk about Karve anymore. She's going to be gone again to Merlin knows where."

"Why does she live like that?"

"It's her way of keeping life interesting, I guess. Or maybe she just likes to escape like we all sometimes want to."

"I like the way things are now. Living with your has been great. I don't want things to change."

"Well, it's going to. But that shouldn't faze you. I'm proud of who you're turning out to be. You're stronger now, and I'm sure you can handle the challenges thrown at you. And if you ever feel like you can't handle it, then you know who to turn to."

"You're the reason I'm who I am today. I'd be dead if it weren't for you."

Sirius laid a hand on Harry's shoulder.

"Don't think like that. You can survive without me."

"I don't want to," Harry said, silently.

"You won't have to," answered Sirius. "I'm not that old yet, you'll be stuck with me for quite a while."

"I guess you're right. I don't why I'm even thinking about this."

"You're graduating soon and becoming an official adult, that's why. It's ok to be afraid, but look on the bright side, you'll be free. No more Snape telling you what to do. No more restrictions on your use of magic. How can you not be happy about that?"

"Thanks for bring that up, it really helped," Harry smiled. "No more Snape. Imagine that. I'm kind of used to him though."

"Please don't say that," Sirius groaned.

Harry laughed.

"What time is it?"

"Two."

"How did that happen? You think too much, Harry. This is your fault! I need my sleep. Get your bloody arse out of here so I can rest," said Sirius, already closing his eyes.

"You know-"

Harry was cut off by a pillow that Sirius had thrown at him with eyes closed.

"Alright, I'll leav- hey watch it!" Harry yelled as another pillow was thrown at him.

He ran out of the room, closing the door. He sighed. Talking to Sirius always helped. He felt safe here. He was always afraid that he'd lose the one good thing in his life but knowing that nothing can tempt fate, he had to let it go. Sirius was going to be there for him as long as he's here and Harry was grateful for that. At least, he had that promise. With his godfather's reassurance hanging over his mind, he too went to his room for a night of much needed slumber.

THE END

My last A/N: Anyways, I hoped it turned out well. My fascination on motorcycles and Sirius' love for it is what brought on this ending. Thought I'd throw Karve in there for fun. So, this is it. I'm done with this story. Amazing. When I looked back at the beginning of this story, I was like, 'it's sucks!', seriously, I don't how I attracted readers. There's were so many mistakes and the progression of the plot was 'yuck'. Well, I was young ,but still. Thanks to everyone who reviewed and read my story. You all really make my day with your encouraging words. Thanks a lot. Gosh, I'll miss this story. Leave a review if it's the last thing you do. I'd really appreciate it. If you have any questions about anything, feel free to e-mail me. E-mail is I think I know what most of you are wondering, so I'll get this one out of the way.

Q: Will I write a new ff soon?

A: No. Sorry to disappoint, but at this moment I really hadn't thought about doing another ff. At least not for a while. I've been hanging out mostly on now and I really want to write an original. That's what I'm thinking about doing. However, nothing is certain at this point. I'm quite busy, so I don't know when I'll get something new started. This doesn't mean that I won't ever write another ff. If any inspiration for a new plot comes up, I might take it. Just so you know, if I do write another ff, it'll probably be a Harry/Sirius one again, and angst. But don't get your hopes up.

This is it. Evil Author, signing off...

NEW A/N [08.19.04]: A new ff idea did come up. Therefore, if you liked this story, you might want to read my other new story called Erased Perception. Look in my profile. Thanks.