The Best Mistakes

Notes: Just a reminder that this story is AU and will not be following canon. Changed (or erased) events and timelines are intentional. Enjoy.

Chapter One: But a Lovable Grim

December 1994

A heavy breath escaped Padfoot's nostrils as he saw the familiar crop of dark hair crest the hill, ginger mop and bushy brown flanking. As soon as Harry noticed him, his green eyes darted swiftly round and Padfoot waited with tensed shoulders until a small smile slid across his godson's face; Ron and Hermione had to hurry to match his sudden jog.

Padfoot's tail wagged and if he could have grinned in this form he would have. He settled for a strange four-pawed dance that he hoped conveyed his excitement. Harry's fingers tangled in the fur at his shoulder as soon as he was within reach.

"Hey Snuffles."

Padfoot nudged his ribs in greeting, snorted softly for Ron and Hermione and then led the way to the cave. Sirius transformed as soon as they were inside but when he drew in air to speak, he began coughing.

"Here," Harry said quickly, fumbling with a flask as Sirius caught himself on a scraggly wall. With shaking hands, he accepted the flask, though he managed to get more water on his shirt than in his mouth. Still clutching the flask's neck, he slid down the wall. Harry dropped with him, his green eyes watching intently.

"You all right?"

"Absolutely..." Another cough challenged that reassurance. "Just a bit cold," he explained after a slow sip of the cool water. "And I've been Padfoot for too long."

A soft Warming Charm was chanted above them. Sirius raised his head, smiling as Hermione slid her wand away. "Thank you..."

"We should have brought you a jumper," Harry said, drawing Sirius' attention.

"Would look a bit silly on a dog," Sirius said, smiling.

"Brought you some chicken," Harry told him, "just like last time... and some bread; as much as we could stuff in our pockets. The boys scrambled to find the provisions in their heavy cloaks, handing them over and then waiting expectantly.

"Aren't you going to eat?" Ron demanded with wide eyes as Sirius slipped the parcels into his pockets.

Sirius shook his head. "Not just yet. Got more important things to do," he said with a nudge for his confused godson. "I haven't seen you in ages. I want to hear everything."

Harry didn't immediately answer; he had that wrinkle in the middle of his forehead that Sirius himself was often told as a child would become a permanent mark--though of course it had been more on the order of his mother shouting at him to control his face.

"I've been doing some work for Dumbledore; with Remus," he explained. "Keeps me busy. And Food hasn't been as scarce as it was."

Harry squinted behind his spectacles, finally nodding with reluctance. Which was just as well, since hunger did still gnaw like a constant companion at the edges of Sirius' stomach more days than not; and he wasn't that busy.

"So tell me," he went on, hoping he sounded properly carefree, "what plans have you for the holidays?"

Harry let his backside settle against the floor. "Mrs. Weasley invited me to the Burrow."

Relieved that Harry wouldn't be stuck at Hogwarts for Christmas, Sirius smiled. "Good," he said with a nod. "You'll have fun."

His godson nodded a little too quickly. "What are you...?" He made a vague gesture to complete the question. Sirius shrugged.

"Remus and I will probably share a pie. Nothing terribly exciting."

Sighing, Harry hugged his knees.

"Reminds me though," Sirius said quickly, snapping his fingers and reaching into a pocket that wasn't stuffed with food. "You're not to open it until Christmas, mind, but I wanted to be certain you have it."

Harry stared at the sloppily-wrapped parcel.

"I didn't have any wrapping," Sirius said with a grimace. "Just newspaper..."

Harry shook his head, his green eyes suspiciously bright. "But... I didn't get you anything."

"Well, you don't exactly have the run of Hogsmeade like I do," Sirius said, winking. "Any city within Apparating distance actually..." His easy smile faltered as Harry blinked rapidly. Instantly sobering, Sirius said quietly, "It's all right. I don't need anything. Go on and take it. Just promise me you won't open it until Christmas morning, yeah?"

Cradling the gift to his chest, Harry nodded. "Thanks," he said softly. Sirius smiled, draped an arm over his godson's shoulder and settled in.

"Have you lot figured out the secret of that mysterious egg, then?" he asked. "Less than a month until the second task."

oOoOo

Padfoot kept to trees and large rocks--the occasional rubbish bin--as he trailed behind Harry and his friends on their way back to Hogwarts. He didn't think any of them had any idea that he was watching. It was silly of course; Harry was fourteen after all.

And he was fairly certain that the other children weren't being spied upon. But then, none of the other children had been stalked by Voldemort.

Sighing with a heave of his canine chest, Padfoot slipped behind a large pine twinkling with Christmas lights. The trio had paused in front the bookstore, Hermione pointing through the window. Ron shook his head while Harry stuffed his hands into his pockets, smiling slightly.

Hermione's jabbing finger became more insistent and through Ron's clear protests, he was dragged inside by a sleeve. His imploring gaze was studiously ignored by Harry.

Inwardly chuckling at the scene, Padfoot watched Harry as he propped a shoulder near the door, picking at a thumbnail. A group of chattering kids stopped in front of him briefly, Harry laughing at one point. He sketched a wave when the group moved on.

His godson rolled his wand between idle fingers while he continued to wait, finally coming out of the slouch abruptly; his expression was wary. Padfoot's head angled between branches. A raucous group of students were obstructing his view of Harry, though that was easily sorted with a twist and a bit of stretching.

At the head of the group was a blond boy--Draco Malfoy if genes were anything to go by. He was sneering at Harry, gesturing in a manner that immediately lifted the fur along Padfoot's back.

Draco's hands were precariously close to Harry's face.

Harry took a step back; the pack of Slytherins moved with him, blocking any chance at a clean exit. As Harry took a sideways step, the point of Draco's wand gouged his chest. With a deep growl, Padfoot burst out, spraying pine needles as he went.

"Bloody hell!"

Another boy yelped as he was soundly nipped on the ankle.

"What the hell is that?" Draco demanded in a high-pitched squeal.

"It's a Grim!" someone shrieked, nearly knocking a panting Harry over in his struggle to get away. Padfoot snarled and almost lost to instinct now, snapped his great jaws.

"It's a rabid dog!"

"Somebody stun it!"

"No!" Harry cried, finally wrestling himself free from the wall of bodies. Padfoot moved swiftly, intending to take his godson's wrist in his mouth, but just as he reached Harry's side, several spells rang out and the ground beneath Padfoot's feet exploded. He was flying through the air and then a moment later, crashing down with a grunt of pain as the side of head hit something solid.

He whimpered as colors swam, bleeding quickly to a strange shimmering silver...

Silver...

"Where did it go?"

"It was right there!"

"I told you it was a Grim!"

"Harry?" That voice sounded familiar.

Padfoot struggled to lift his head, but his stomach rebelled; his head even more as everything danced and faded in various hues of grey.

Voices and words that he couldn't quite grasp.

He could see Harry through the silvery web... shapes that might have been people as other blobs drifted away. And then he could smell Harry right beside him; a warm hand on his flank.

"Snuffles?" Harry's whispered voice became softer and more anxious. "Are you all right" He sighed in gusty relief at Padfoot's quiet whimper.

"Where is he?"

"Be quiet, Ronald!"

"Shh," Harry hissed; his friends fell silent. "You're under my dad's cloak," he said, his fingers tapping an uneven staccato against Padfoot's side. Padfoot blinked, understanding now why the silvery web was so familiar. "Do you think you can walk?" Harry asked. "We need to take you back to the cave so no one sees you."

Padfoot wanted to shake his head, wished he wasn't in this form so he could tell his godson to leave him and go back to Hogwarts--and to stay close to his friends this time, for pity's sake but all he could do was huff out a few pathetic breaths.

"Just go slowly," Harry said softly, his fingers prodding Padfoot's shoulder now. And not wanting Harry to linger here with him, Padfoot lurched to his feet, and winced as he set his paw to the ground. "I'll be all right," Harry was hissing again, nearly snapping.

"But you can't stay," Hermione whispered fiercely.

"I'm not leaving him here if he's hurt!"

Padfoot watched blearily as he argued briefly with Ron and Hermione, though what they were arguing about was proving elusive. He finally pushed a nose into Harry's ribs, but Harry brushed his snout away. "Hermione, please."

Hermione sighed, obviously recognizing a stubbornness that was new to Sirius. Once Ron and Hermione were gone, Harry whispered, "Come on. We'll go slowly..."

Since dashing off and leaving Harry alone wasn't an option, even if he could have dashed, Padfoot followed the pressure of Harry's fingers and limped his groggy way back to the cave. As soon as they were inside, he collapsed against a crooked wall and transformed. His limbs trembled with the effort.

The cloak was pulled away with a schlip. Harry's face hovered over his, green eyes sharp with worry. "You're bleeding," he said as he fell into a squat.

Sirius lifted the hand that wasn't throbbing to his forehead; felt the sticky warmth of blood. "Had worse..." He couldn't quite manage a shrug. "Harry, listen..." He struggled with a cough, but spoke through the weak throat, "I don't want you walking back alone. I'll walk with you to the Shrieking Shack and--"

"What? No," Harry said, shaking his head. "Hermione and Ron went to fetch Dumbledore--"

Pain lanced through Sirius' head and ribs as he straightened with a jerk.

"Sirius," Harry warbled, moving to assist but with teeth gritted against the pain, Sirius waved a hand.

"Why?" he asked shakily when he could breathe without collapsing. "Dumbledore... if he finds out I've been coming here--"

"He knows you're innocent--"

"Harry," Sirius said, fingers curling around his godson's agitated wrist, "he will probably forbid you coming to Hogwarts."

Harry stared at him long enough to blink and then tugged away from Sirius' fingers. Sinking into a slump beside Sirius, he muttered, "Well then, maybe you shouldn't have leapt into the street."

Sirius studied the scowl through half-closed eyes. "Malfoys' kid stuck a wand to your chest," he said, thinking he sounded rather reasonable.

But Harry drew his legs up and hugged them, frown not breaking. "I could have handled it myself."

"I know." Harry's eyebrows rose, but Sirius couldn't decide if he looked doubtful or surprised. "It was an instinct," Sirius explained, letting his chin droop as a deep exhaustion began to spread through his limbs. "You are right though... stupid of me."

Harry didn't immediately answer and Sirius let his eyes close.

"Sirius?"

He cracked an eye; his nose was nearly touching Harry's.

"I don't think you're supposed to sleep," he said worriedly. "I had concussion once and Pomfrey wouldn't let me sleep..."

A smile tugged at Sirius' lips. "Right," he said, trying to prop himself up. Harry took an elbow but had to scoot right next to him, using his shoulder to keep Sirius upright.

"What's the matter?" Harry asked sharply at Sirius' indrawn breath.

The smile failed this time. "Nothing... think I cracked a rib." He cradled the tender ribs, aching more as he tried not to let too much of his weight rest against his godson's small frame.

"Do you know any pain relief spells?"

"Do... not sure I can manage a spell at the moment; wand's in my pocket," Sirius added as Harry's face fell. Worth a try anyway...

"Here," Harry said quickly, only moving enough to pull his wand, "use mine."

Sirius muttered the simplest pain relief spell he knew. It was enough to take the wince from his voice.

"Is it better?"

Sirius let his head roll to the side, smiling again at his very worried godson. "Much," he lied. The look of relief on Harry's face scattered warmth through his chest. Moving carefully, he let his hand rest atop Harry's head, his thumb brushing absently over the dark strands.

Not quite smiling, Harry squinted up at him. "Do you really think Dumbledore will say I can't come to Hogsmeade any longer?"

"I don't think he will be pleased to hear you have been visiting me here," Sirius chose his words carefully, mostly because thinking about not seeing Harry was painful; worse than the ribs. "Bit selfish of me, I suppose..."

"Selfish?" Harry echoed, green eyes uncertain.

"Did you think I come here to see you?" Sirius teased. "No, no, it's the rats, you see. Best rats on the continent."

Harry was clearly trying not to smile. But before Sirius could attempt to win a real one, a pointed hat ducked through the cave's entrance, followed closely by a set of purple and green speckled robes. "Ah," Dumbledore said with a smile as he straightened, "there you are. Lucky for us there is an alarming shortage of caves in Hogsmeade."

Sirius felt his shoulders tensing. "Us?"

"I've brought an expert, of course." Dumbledore stepped aside to reveal Pomfrey in her crisp white robes. Sirius stiffened, but the healer's expression didn't change; the determined one she always wore when confronted with a new patient.

"What happened?" she asked as she knelt beside Sirius. Wary, Sirius glanced over her head to Dumbledore, but the headmaster only smiled serenely. "Sirius?" Pomfrey prompted; the stern voice she seemed to reserve for the Marauders.

Except for Remus; she had always spoken to him as if he was a spooked kitten.

"A blasting spell knocked me over," Sirius explained, grimacing as she tutted and began waving intricate patterns with her wand. "Hit my head..."

"You are concussed," she told him. "And you've cracked a rib and sprained your wrist."

"Will he be all right?" Harry asked, straightening up again, his teeth worrying his lower lip.

"Of course I--"

"Be still," Pomfrey cut off Sirius, concentrating her wand movements on his head. Without another word, she grasped his chin, her wand still circling his temple as she frowned into his eyes. "Hmm..." Her brows furrowed, deep confusion marring her face but before Sirius could ask what the matter was, she sighed and released him.

"The cut on your forehead is superficial," she informed him, reaching into one of her many pockets and producing gauze and disinfecting solution. She cleaned the wound with expert fingers and closed it with a spell.

"Your pain relief spells need work," she tsked, applying one of her own and a potion as well. "The ribs and wrist will require bone-knitting and strengthening potions." She produced two vials and ordered Sirius to drink up. "I would like to sit with you for a few hours, to monitor you--"

"Why?"

"Injuries to the head are nothing to fool with, Mr. Potter," Pomfrey answered as she secured empty vials into their respective pockets. "I need to be certain there are no lasting effects."

Again that worried lined pinched Harry's brow. "But..."

"It is only a mild concussion," she assured him with a comforting smile. "And the ribs will be healed by morning. "Now," she added, adopting that brisk tone once more, "your godfather needs to rest. The headmaster will escort you back to Hogwarts."

Harry made no move to stand.

Sirius' hand slid to the back his godson's head. "Hardly a scratch," he said, smiling. "You go on with Dumbledore and I will send off a letter in the morning."

Harry held his gaze for a moment, eyes piercing in a way that squeezed at Sirius' heart. And then with his jaw set, Harry angled his head and met Dumbledore's placid gaze. "Are you going to ban me from visiting Hogsmeade?"

A strange pride brought a smile to Sirius' lips. And much to his pleasure, Dumbledore seemed not at all bothered by Harry's audacity.

"I have always believed that a day spent in Hogsmeade is an excellent way for a student to cope with stress," he answered with a smile. "As a matter of fact, I was considering adding one or two more visits to the calendar next term."

The wizened old man had already known. Relief, in that moment, made Sirius dizzy. Harry had sunk back onto his rump, echoing relief etched into his features.

"I would prefer that future trips not require my presence," Pomfrey interjected, eying Sirius and Harry.

"If you can keep Draco Malfoy from threatening Harry at wandpoint," Sirius muttered, "I think that might be arranged." A soft snort turned his attention to Harry. "Don't tell me," Sirius said, half under his breath. "You two have a long-standing rivalry?"

"He's a git," was Harry's less than helpful answer.

"Perhaps I will have a word with him," Dumbledore said, looking as if the idea had just occurred to him.

"Er, that's all right sir," Harry said hastily. "He's not really all that threatening." A quick glance for Sirius. "Sirius is just a bit..."

"Zealous," Dumbledore finished with a nod as he dipped his fingers into a pocket for his watch. "He is rather, isn't he? Fortunate for you, I would say."

Falling abruptly silent, Harry slid confused eyes to Sirius. Sirius smiled at him and the uncertainty cleared.

"Well," Dumbledore said cheerfully; he closed his watch with a loud click. "I believe Madame Pomfrey is about to suggest we make our exit, Harry. Shall we? On the way, I should like to hear all about Draco's threats. I rather enjoy a good story."

Harry sighed.

"I'll want to hear it as well," Sirius said, nudging his godson's knee, "so don't use up all the best bits on the headmaster."

"I'm not daft," Harry retorted, though he was smiling. "I'm not giving you any more reason to bite people."

"You bit Draco?!"

Sirius winced under Pomfrey's glare. "Thanks, mate," he grumbled. Harry smirked.

"It wasn't Draco," he assured the healer, "but he probably would have if Draco had been closer."

"Oy..."

"Sirius Black," Pomfrey said over him, in her most menacing voice.

Dumbledore held up an intervening hand. "Perhaps you had best finish your scolding after Harry and I have left," he advised, amusement in his blue eyes. "Come along, Harry."

"I will send along an owl in the morning," Sirius said when Harry turned his face up. "And I will see you after the holidays."

Harry nodded, all solemnity now. Except for his eyes, which held a hopefulness that Sirius knew Harry didn't realize he was revealing. Moving his arm carefully, he put it around his godson's shoulders, a somewhat gentle half-hug that Harry nonetheless leaned into.

"Keep your head down," Sirius murmured into the black tangles. "And have a Happy Christmas, yeah?"

Harry nodded against his shoulder. "You too."

Sirius wouldn't, but he agreed with a soft murmur before patting his godson and letting go. "Go on," he said when Harry didn't stand. And reluctantly, Harry pushed himself up, falling in line after Dumbledore. He paused at the mouth of the cave.

"Bye," he said quietly and before Sirius could answer, he had slipped away.

"He cares a great deal for you..."

Sirius swallowed. But Pomfrey was waving her wand over him again.

"I found something in your mind when I was examining you," she said, almost offhand as she peered into his eyes with her wand tip.

"Something?" Sirius echoed, pulling away from the soft light.

Pomfrey lowered her wand. "It is a blocked memory. And one which has been there for many years, though I cannot be certain when it originated."

Sirius hoped his laboring comprehension had something to do with the concussion. "Someone obliviated me?"

"Someone did not cast the charm correctly," she amended. "Or, more probably, you did this to yourself; accidentally when you were a child--"

"What?"

"It is not uncommon," she assured him, squeezing his forearm as if she thought he was grieving. "It is much like the accidental magic young children perform. Except in a case like this, a child wants a memory to go away so badly that he obliviates himself; unconsciously of course. Even adults, under great distress..."

"Sirius," she said gently when he did nothing but stare at her like a landed fish, "given your childhood, it is a logical conclusion."

He pulled his hand away and straightened up as much as his injuries would allow. "Right," he said, unable to look at her, even though she had been one of the few people to know the full extent of his mother's cruelty. James and Remus were the only others.

Probably Dumbledore...

And Regulus had known of course...

Sirius shook himself from that line of thought. It didn't matter now.

"You will let me know if you want me to undo the block?"

Sirius' eyes snapped to Pomfrey. "You can do that?"

She nodded.

"I..."

Her eyes crinkled with her sympathy. "Perhaps in a day or two..."

Sirius swallowed; had to look away again. "No," he said softly. "No, I think... no."

A hand touched his arm again. Sirius met her concerned gaze, but found no judgement, no criticism and he smiled gratefully.

TBC...