"Tell me about him, Draco," Harry asked, turning his head to look up at Draco almost shyly. "Sirius."

It was a glorious mid-August afternoon, a few days after Ron and Hermione had left the forest for the Burrow again, and the boys were lying on their stomachs by the brook.

Casper, as ever, was between them, mesmerised by the water and the reflection on it from the light through the trees, and gurgling incessantly as they spoke.

"What do you want to know, sweetheart?" Draco asked. He ran a soft hand down his boyfriend's back, tracing pretty swirling patterns with slender fingers.

Harry shrugged. "Anything. What do you remember?"

Draco turned onto his back, thinking for a minute. He pulled Casper up into a sitting position and poked his squidgy little baby tummy, making him giggle, and then turned back to Harry.

"You know how he used to write to me all through school, right up till he died?" he asked.

Harry nodded. Sirius had been the biggest cheerleader of their relationship that he could imagine.

"You take good care of my godson, you little hooligan," he remembered reading in one of Sirius' letters to Draco at the start. "I know what those of us with blood from the Blacks can be like. Be more like Harry in that regard, and you'll be alright."

"Did you know that apart from you, he's the main reason I didn't become a Death Eater this year?" Draco asked thoughtfully. "He predicted it literally years ago. I remember him talking to my mother about it when I was about six or seven, on our trip here, actually."

"Really?" Harry asked, amazed. "He knew this would happen so soon?"

Draco nodded seriously. "Oh, yeah. I remember the argument. He was yelling at her, really yelling, saying she had to protect me at all costs, that my father would break me if she wasn't careful. And she was saying ...."

He paused and looked away into the distance. A lump grew in his throat which made it hard to speak for a second, but he forced it down.

"She was saying that my father wasn't like that."

Harry laid a gentle hand on Draco's arm and for a minute they were silent, listening to the sound of the brook and the birds and their babbling son.

"I do have happier stories of Sirius too," Draco broke the silence after a while, a slightly brighter note in his voice this time. "He was a very cool older cousin. Or older second-cousin."

"I bet he was," Harry smiled, and he meant it.

"He used to throw me right up onto his shoulders and hold me there as long as i wanted," Draco began. His eyes lost their worried look and began to shine as he spoke.

"And he'd sneak me sweets from that tall cupboard in the kitchen because I couldn't reach it then, and he took me down to the river every day and dunked me in with him."

"Sounds like Sirius," Harry chuckled.

"He thought my dad was a tosser, and he was right," continued Draco. The words were all spilling out on top of one another now.

"He let me go on his broom even though it was far too big for me and I fell off and my mother got cross with him, but I was grinning my head off the whole time. He rode a motorcycle and dressed me in his leather jacket - which was massive on me, I looked like an idiot. Mother used to have the pictures somewhere. God, I wanted to be Sirius Black so badly."

"Me too," Harry smiled sadly. "He was the coolest."

"He's one of the reasons I wasn't as terrified to raise CJ as I could've been," Draco admitted. "It doesn't matter that you have a shit dad if you've got a role model like that. I hope Cassy knows how cool his dads are when he's older."

"Oh, he will," Harry said, stroking their son's hair fondly. "We'll make sure of it."

"Do you think he'll be a good Quidditch player like Krum?" Draco asked. "Or will he be more interested in books, like Hermione?"

"Why not both?" Harry grinned. "You going to be our little brainbox, Cassy J? And Captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch team?"

"Please," Draco sighed dramatically. "Casper, a Gryffindor? I'll kick him out."

"Ok, Lucius," replied Harry, quickly dodging a punch and laughing to himself. "Sorry that I'll love our son unconditionally! Besides, Sirius was a Gryffindor. They're pretty cool. You're just jealous that you were too much of a dick for anything but the Serpents."

"Prejudice!" Draco yelped. "I am being discriminated against!"

Harry leaned over the bank on his stomach and scooped a handful of sparkling water, which he promptly hurled at Draco's face.

"That's shut you up!" he laughed, as Draco's protests turned to indignant gasps.

"You've really done it this time, Potter!" Draco yelled when he'd recovered from the momentary shock, shaking his dripping blonde head and splattering Harry with water.

"You can't splash me, I've got Casper!" Harry squeaked, holding their son up like a shield.

"Coward!" Draco cackled. "Harry Potter, the great coward! The Boy Who Used A Baby To Defend Himself! Better not let Gryffindor hear about this!"

***

When they got inside to dry off after the inevitable water fight that had ensued, Harry caught sight a tiny owl tapping on the windowpanes of the kitchen.

"Dumbledore's reply!" he said excitedly, and threw up the window to let the bird in. Sure enough, the letter on its ankle was embellished with their headteacher's familiar golden script, complete with the Hogwarts crest.

It had been Harry's idea to write to Dumbledore in the first place, and explain their situation in advance of their return to Hogwarts.

He understood it was risky, but the idea of going back on the Express with Casper again, luring Lucius to the station with all the other students in the process, was just not something he was willing to consider.

No; he and (reluctantly) Draco had decided that it was best to bite the bullet and inform Dumbledore of their whole situation, and had borrowed a spare Weasley owl from Ron specifically for this purpose.

They'd made sure that the owl was untraceable of course, and that there were no details of their whereabouts in the letter, but they'd still felt anxious while waiting to hear back from the headmaster. But finally, his response was safely here!

Harry ripped eagerly into the envelope, and together he and Draco skimmed through its contents.

"Dear Mr. Potter and Mr. Malfoy," the letter read.

"Might I open my letter by saying how I commend you both for your courage and maturity in what you have endeavoured to do.

I need not ask to whom the child biologically belongs: confirmation that you are both his parents is enough. And very fine parents I'm sure you are too, especially for your age.

I shall have a nursery set up immediately and employ some extra House Elves so you shan't have to worry about juggling childcare with your studies again this year.

And with regards to Mr. Malfoy's parents - I must confess, I had heard something of the situation from contacts of mine in the Ministry, and had already intended to invite all students back on a different term date to usual, as well as ensuring the existence of extra precautions on the train and around the castle, just to be safe.

The two of you would of course be welcome to move back home to Hogwarts whenever you please; I think it a very sensible idea for the two of you to be here as soon as possible, however. Books, robes, and the like can be supplied upon your arrival.

Do not take unnecessary risks here, gentlemen. Your safety and that of your child is of paramount importance.

Please both come and see me when you arrive back at Hogwarts. I feel it pertinent that we discuss practicalities of the next term and beyond in person rather than through any more letters, and besides, I am terribly fond of small children.

Yours faithfully,

Albus Dumbledore."

The boys resolved to get ready and head to Hogwarts that same night on Draco's broom. It was a relatively long journey, but Draco had a quick broom and a good sense of direction, and Dumbledore was right, it was the safest thing for them to do.

It would be hard to say goodbye to the only place they'd ever called their own, though. The forest had looked after them better than their own parents.

Harry folded up the letter and slipped it into his pocket with a little sigh. His thoughts drifted back to his godfather.

"God, what would you do, Sirius?" he asked mentally. "Is this the right thing? I miss you but I'm not sure I want to join you tonight. Watch over us and our little boy, wherever you are?"

Harry sighed again. The Sirius in his mind never replied, he didn't know why he bothered.

"Could you make us a final coffee, Draco?" he asked, rubbing his eyes. "I'll pack up our stuff."

They were going to need the caffeine. Hogwarts was calling them home.
________________________________

a/n: so! back to hogwarts! thanks for reading again, everyone

and again, i do know i've got the timeline wrong in terms of sirius' imprisonment and death etc but hopefully it doesn't bother you too much 🤍

can't believe i'm this far into this fic already! please leave a comment if you enjoyed and don't forget to vote 🤍🤍

~ paradisedraco