Acceptance

Acceptance

Henry Potter walked in the door of his house and handed his hat and coat to Roddy, one of the family's four house-elves. A short man with a slightly thick body, and bony kees, he felt himself staggering as though under an invisible load. As he pivoted toward the kitchen, Sylvia, his wife, caught his eye, and he silently shook his head. She nodded and signaled Roddy to follow her. The house-elf levitated the hat and coat onto the hooks and then scampered after his mistress.

Henry seated himself at the kitchen table. He rubbed his head, trying to clear it of the pains he had recently suffered. "Missy," he called out, and another house elf came running up. "A pot of tea and a plate of biscuits. We'll be having a family meeting in a few minutes." She curtsied; her tea towel toga brushed the floor slightly, and dashed off. After a few minutes the elf placed the tea service on the table and poured her master a cup, which he took gratefully. Henry had just begun to sip it when he saw his son, James, enter with his mother and his best friend, Sirius Black, right behind him. Missy served them all tea, and then retreated.

"Well, Sirius, I've just spoken with your mother, and you were right, she doesn't care to see you again." He ran a hand through his thinning black hair. "She made that abundantly clear."

"Told you so." Sirius muttered, looking into his tea, his voice dark and sulky.

"Yes, well, I had to be sure. Running away from home is a serious matter, even for Muggles. For wizards it can mean any number of things, but in your case, it's clear enough: you've made a choice. And," he added, a slight smile on his round face, "from what I can see, the right one!" Sirius' head snapped up, and he stared at Mr. Potter.

"Henry and I had a long talk while you and James were playing, earlier," Mrs. Potter explained. "We decided that if your own mother and father didn't want you back, then we'd make up one of the spare rooms for you." She smiled at the look of wonder on the young man's face.

"See, mate?" James exclaimed, punching his best friend on the shoulder. "I told you they wouldn't put you out in the cold!"

Sirius slowly smiled, a look of wonder on his face, hardly believing what he was hearing, and then looked at the older couple. "I'll provide for myself--"

"You'll do no such thing!" Mrs. Potter exclaimed. "How can you, Sirius? You and James still have two years to go at Hogwarts, and even after that you'll still have to find a job. No, James has always wanted a brother, and while you live here under our roof, you will live here as though you were our son. Of course," she said firmly, "that means you must follow our rules."

"Mrs. Potter, after living with my own Mother and Father, and their..." he floundered for the words momentarily, "reign of terror, minding you will be a dream come true!"

Henry Potter chuckled and sipped his tea. "After spending time in your house, Sirius, I quite agree. Kreacher has to be the most sinister-looking house-elf I've ever seen!" He drank more tea, feeling it soothe his nerves. "That doorbell is bad enough."

Mrs. Potter became brisk. "Then it's all settled. I've already sent Roddy to unpack your school things. You'll have the spare room across the hall from James. It looks down on the garden. Supper is at 6:00 each night, and no loud music after 10:00."

Sirius actually glowed. "Paradise! My Father's always playing Wurgler's Ogre Chants on the gramophone, at 1:00 AM, practically every night."

Mrs. Potter made a face, absently brushing a lock of her unruly hair aside. "That awful stuff? Whatever for?"

Sirius rolled his eyes. "He claims it helps him think. He writes bad poetry, and it gives him inspiration. Or so he says. Sometimes I think he actually does it just to keep me awake."

James grinned. "Nevermore, mate." He started to rise, and then looked at his parents. "Thanks."

Sirius nodded as well. "Thank you so much, Mr. & Mrs. Potter!" Then the two boys left the room, practically running.

Mrs. Potter smiled as she watched them go. "There's a world of promise in Sirius; and he's so good for James." She looked at her husband. "It's going to be a bit strange having two sons around, but I think it's a change for the better."

Henry nodded. "Promise indeed, my dear. That boy's grown up in a brutal, bestial environment. Mrs. Black is by far the most unctuous old hag that I've ever met outside of Knockturn Alley! But somehow, Sirius has nurtured a good heart and soul. That's something worth preserving. And," he said, taking a biscuit from the tray, "I'm glad we can do it." He looked at his wife and stroked the side of her cheek. "It was a very good idea, dear. Thank you for thinking of it."

"It would have come to you eventually, Harry," she said, using his nickname. "But I agree, it's the right thing to do."

In the days that followed, it became apparent Sirius was intent on "earning his keep", to some degree. He rooted out the doxies in the attic which the house-elves had missed, vanquished a boggart that had taken up residence in the crawlspace under the house, and was about to reorganize the books in Mr. Potter's library when Mrs. Potter took him aside. "Sirius, that's enough."

"Mrs. Potter?" He seemed confused, and then he saw Mr. Potter standing slightly behind his wife, his face a mixture of understanding, mixed with sadness.

Sylvia gently pushed him down onto the sofa and spoke to him softly, but firmly. "We appreciate the things you've done, dear, but they're not necessary. Henry and I have made the decision to accept you into our home. We won't go back on that!"

Henry Potter nodded, and walked forward and placed a comforting hand on Sirius' shoulder. "You can best repay us by simply being yourself, and getting good grades at Hogwarts. Do the best you can. That's all we've ever asked of James, and that's all we ask of you."

Mrs. Potter firmly took the book from his hand. "Now, I think James is getting ready to practice Quidditch outside; go join him, why don't you?"

Sirius flushed, and went upstairs for his broom. Mrs. Potter watched him for a moment, a gentle smile on her face, and then handed the book to Roddy who put it firmly back in its place.

Moments later, while Mr. & Mrs. Potter were examining a recently arrived letter, Sirius Black--broom in hand--stood outside the library door, looking at his new parents. His eyes misted slightly, and then he moved on towards the backyard, his breathing faster than normal.

Outside, Sirius saw his best friend tossing a Quaffle in one hand, and staring dreamily into space. "Still thinking about Lily, mate?" James looked startled, and Sirius laughed. "She's had you hooked ever since that one dance at the Yule Ball! Next thing you know, you'll be asking me to be your Best Man."

James grinned at the sally, and tossed the Quaffle to his friend, one of the Gryffindor Beaters. "Well, if I ever do go that far, you will be the one to stand beside me."

Sirius caught the ball and then mounted the broom in the same motion. As he accelerated into the sky, he looked back over his shoulder. "'Course I will, mate. Remus as a groomsman, Peter as the ring-bearer, and Snivelus can be the flower girl! Now catch this before it hits the ground, or you buy all my chocolate frogs next term!" He dropped the Quaffle and laughed as James mounted and rocketed to catch the ball as it plummeted down.

Henry Potter stood watching from a picture window of the library. "Boys at play..." he murmured, smiling slightly.

His wife came up to stand beside him, but she shook her head, her black hair tangled and in its usual disarray. "No, Harry. Our sons at play." Her husband nodded silently in agreement.