The Seriousness of Sirius Potter

Harry hadn't said anything to Ginny about Sirius when he got home; in fact he hadn't said anything at all. Ginny wasn't able to read his expression as he walked straight through the living room and up the stairs. He went right into his study and closed the door behind him. Ginny assumed that Harry had just had a bad day at school, they happened every now and then. She went back to making dinner; hopefully sausages, chips and beans would cheer him up. Suddenly she heard someone stepping out of the fireplace. She peered into the living room where Ron was dusting himself off.

"Hello Ron!" She strolled over to him, gave him a hug and kissed him on the cheek. Ron's moustache tickled her cheek as he kissed her back. "Still got that moustache I see. Honestly Ron, it looks like you're trying to balance a carrot on your upper lip." Ron tried to smile but it seemed inappropriate.

"Is Harry around?"

"He went up to his study; I think he's in one of his moods. Why don't you go on up, give him a nice surprise?" Ron merely nodded as he left the living room and started walking up the stairs. What he had to say was going to be a surprise, but it was going to be anything but nice. Harry's study was the second door on the left. He knocked on the door sharply.

"Come in," grumbled Harry from inside. Ron opened the door and stepped inside. Harry's study rivalled Dumbledore's old office. He had shelves full of books on every aspect of defending oneself against the dark arts. The whole room had been magically expanded to make room for them all. Harry sat at his mahogany desk in his swivel chair, his fingers were pressing into his temple as if he had a headache. He glanced up. "Hey Ron," he muttered.

"Hey Harry," For several moments they remained silent. Harry's hand fell to his lap as he spoke.

"You didn't come just to stare at me. Anything I can help you with?"

"Hermione told me about Sirius and how you pretty much disowned him," Harry swore under his breath.

"Don't you start on me, I have not disowned him. I'm just not going to talk to him until he gets his act together."

"Gets his...he's your only son! You can't be serious."

"I am bloody serious; he's the one who's decided to take the piss with his old man. He thinks he can unload his adolescent confusions on me, like I haven't had enough on my plate with Lily."

"There you go, making it about yourself again. If you'd just listen to him ..."

"I did listen," snapped Harry, "but you know as well as I do he's not serious. No son of mine is going to be gay. It's just a phase he's going through, something he'll grow out of." There was another long silence. Ron folded his arms and looked directly at Harry, who couldn't seem to maintain eye contact.

"Harry, do you remember when we were Sirius' age, that time during sixth year in the Room of Requirement?" Harry sat bolt upright, pointing his finger at Ron warningly.

"You and I both swore never to speak about that night!"

"But do you remember it?" Harry gave an indignant scoff.

"Obviously, but we were young ..."

"Same age as Sirius is now."

"We were ...experimenting. We weren't serious and if you remember correctly, it almost destroyed our friendship."

"But it didn't and Sirius is serious about this. He's found someone who makes him happy, which should make you happy as well. Even if you don't agree with his choices the least you could do is let him know you still love him," Harry jumped up, his temper had just been shifted into overdrive.

"ARE YOU SUGGESTING I DON'T LOVE MY SON? WHAT GIVES YOU THE BLOODY RIGHT...?" Ron's patience had run out, he was tired of trying to be calm and rational.

"WHAT GIVES ME THE RIGHT? I'M HIS GODFATHER!"

"AND I'M HIS DAD! I KNOW WHAT'S BEST FOR HIM!"

"SIRIUS IS NOT A LITTLE KID ANYMORE! HE CAN RUN HIS OWN LIFE! DON'T YOU THINK HE'S BEEN THROUGH ENOUGH WITH THAT SCOTT KID WITHOUT YOU FLIPPING OUT ON HIM?"

"What's going on up there?" called Ginny from downstairs. They could hear her coming up the stairs. Harry lowered his voice threateningly.

"If you tell Ginny about Serious or what happened between you and me I swear I'll ..."

"I'm not going to tell her anything. You're going to tell her about Sirius yourself," stated Ron. Before Harry could register his indignation, Ginny appeared in the doorway.

"What are you two yelling about?" Ron glared at Harry. It was as if their argument continued telepathically. Harry sank into his chair as he realised the huge mistake he had made. "I'm waiting for some answers," said Ginny impatiently. Harry couldn't look at either of them.

"I'm sorry Ron ... oh Merlin what have I done?" He raised himself unsteadily. "Let's go downstairs, there's something I have to tell you, Ginny, something I should have told you as soon as I got home."

They all sat in the living room nursing cups of coffee in their hands. Harry took a deep breath and began. "I spoke to Sirius this afternoon. There was an incident earlier today, you know Oliver's son, Michael? He hit Seamus' boy Scott during my lesson. I invited Sirius to my office, to try and find out what was going on. It turned out that Scott was blackmailing Sirius. The deal was Sirius did whatever Scott wanted and Scott kept something from me." Ginny was dumbfounded to think that all this could be happening to her little boy without her knowing.

"Michael hit Scott because he found out. Sirius came to my office and told me that ...he and Michael have been in a very serious relationship for about a month now."

"How serious?" enquired Ginny.

"He said they've slept together on more than one occasion."

"And what was all the shouting about?" Harry gave a heavy sigh. This was the part he was reluctant to tell his wife about. He knew she wouldn't have a problem with Sirius being gay, she understood their son well enough not to be as shocked as Harry had been. However, she wasn't going to like what she was about to hear.

"When Sirius told me, I got angry with him. I started yelling, I can't even remember what I said and ... everything's so blurred right now. I just know I've upset him."

"Hermione found him running up to Gryffindor tower, crying," said Ron solemnly. Ginny was speechless. She rose, leaving her coffee untouched. When she couldn't find the words to express her disappointment in Harry, she went and stood in the hallway. The full force of what he had done hit Harry now that he had told Ginny. After being so angry, he gave in and allowed himself to cry.

"He hates me... my own son hates me and it's my fault." Ron pulled himself up from his chair and crossed over to kneel by Harry's seat.

"Sirius could never hate you, but he is a bit shaken, like you are mate. Why don't you get some rest and then you can talk to him in the morning." Harry dried his eyes on his sleeve.

"No, I can't sleep on this. I've got to go see Sirius now." Placing his cup down, he stood up and quickly threw some Floo Powder into the fireplace. The fire had barely finished turning green before he stepped in and stated his destination. "Professor Potter's office, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry!" He disappeared in a flurry of green ash.

Ginny stood in the doorway giving Ron a lost, beseeching look. They hugged each other tightly. "My baby boy's all grown up and making his own decisions about his life. Oh Ron, why do they have to grow up?"

"You should feel lucky, I don't think the twins are ever going to grow up," The siblings shared a gentle, tired laugh. "I'll be on my way then," After a final brotherly kiss on the forehead, Ron returned home. His work was done.