Fetch Snippet
This is from Return From The Veil fic. Sirius has been returned at sixteen to be a protector for Harry. End of Fifth year after the DOM.
***
Harry couldn’t help laughing at Sirius’ behavior as Padfoot, as he, Neville, Ginny, and Luna play fetch with Padfoot in the courtyard. Despite the very serious conversations about Occlumency, Horcruxes, and Training plans, Sirius made every effort to take a break from that every day to play in the courtyard. In fact, he spent most of his time outside of their secret meetings and discussions, as Padfoot, and outside. He even slept in Harry’s bed as Padfoot, which helped Harry with his nightmares about that night. When Harry asked him about it, he explained that due to Azkaban and his time on the run, he spent much of the last nearly fifteen years as Padfoot, and Padfoot’s emotions are dulled, which helps Sirius deal with them. He liked being Padfoot, especially when the others liked playing with him, and especially because he’s less likely be stared at or questioned as Padfoot, like he was questioned at pretty much every meal or when he wasn’t Padfoot in the common room.
“Padfoot, you’re playing fetch wrong,” Harry yells, as Padfoot teases him with the tug-o-war rope before turning around and running to Neville, then Ginny, then Luna to do the same.
Neville laughs, “You’d think since he could understand us, he’d know how this works.”
Padfoot shakes his head, running back to Neville and toppling him to the ground. “Hey!”
“Mr. Black, kindly do not attack my students,” Professor McGonagall says, as she enters the courtyard, carrying his firebolt. Padfoot bounds over to her and shakes his head, dropping the rope at her feet.
“No, I’m not playing…”
He nudges her free hand with his nose.
“I said no, Mr. Black,” she responds, meanwhile Neville uses his distraction to sneak up behind him, and tackles him, grabbing the rope, rolling away, and throwing it to Luna.
Padfoot falls to his side, rolls over, barks and runs to Luna, who throws it to Ginny, who throws it to Harry. “This is what you get for not playing fetch right.” He throws it Neville, who drops it, causing Padfoot to grab it, and run away with it. “Hey! Come back, you mutt!”
Padfoot laughs, as much as a dog can laugh, and dives into the lake.
“I think he wins, Harry,” Ginny says, laughing.
“That’s what he thinks,” Harry states, as the Professor walks up to him.
“I believe this belongs to you. I hope you use it well as Captain next year,” Professor McGonagall says, with a smile.
“Captain? Seriously? I was kicked off the team.”
“Unjustly kicked off the team. Do act surprised when you get your badge.”
Harry smiles at her, looking down at his broom. “I will, thanks.”
With that, she leaves, and Harry’s surprised when a minute later, he feels wet arms around his shoulders. “Good thing she gave that back, it cost a fortune.”
Harry nods, “I never did tell you what a problem receiving a no name attached present did for me that year, did I?”
Sirius laughs, “No, but I noticed you didn’t use it for weeks.”
Ginny, Neville, and Luna join them as they sit by a tree in the courtyard.
“Wait – you actually did buy him that?” Neville asks, and Sirius nods.
“I stole a Gringotts form, well Crookshanks did, filled out my account number and Harry’s name as the recipient and they went for it. It was my fault the dementors were there to destroy his Nimbus, and Remus’ fault that the Willow is on the grounds, so I felt it was fair. Besides, I bought him his first broom, much to the dismay of the cat …”
“We had a cat?” Harry asks. He never much liked cats, and he knew that Sirius had bought his first ‘child’ broom, as Sirius had found a picture of him zooming around on it.
“You did. Lily wanted her, and James always did what made Lily happy. I was against it for obvious reasons.”
“Like the fact that you turn into a dog,” a voice states from above. Harry looks up and sees Lupin standing there. For a second there’s a look in eyes at sees Sirius and Harry sitting by the tree, with Sirius being sixteen, again, it was evident that Lupin flashed back to their fifth year, just for a second.
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Harry teaches Sirius to Cook
This is a snippet from a much longer fic that I have yet to post. Still, thought it was cute for Sirius and Harry Saturday. (Note Sirius has returned from the Veil as a sixteen year old because James and Lily sent him back to protect Harry).
***
“So, what do you say to teaching me how to cook?” Sirius questions as he sits across from Harry in their sitting room where Harry is playing a video game that Sirius had immediately bought because he knew he had always wished he could play it when Dudley got to and he didn’t. It was raining and he’s looking for something to distract him from the fact that he’s stuck inside. Despite having a lot more freedom to go outside and do whatever he wants in the last couple of weeks, every time he can’t go outside due to the weather, he starts to feel trapped and needs a distraction.
What better distraction than focusing on non-mission bonding time with his godson?
“You want to learn how to cook?” Harry questions. “Why?”
“Well, A) because I should be taking care of you rather than the other way around…”
“You are!” Harry insists. “You’ve been great with everything so far – particularly the fact that you got me away from the Dursleys – you gave me a home, you don’t need to do anything else.”
Sirius laughs, “Fair, but my second thing was that I wanted to bond with you regarding something other than the mission.”
“We’ve been bonding with other stuff – going on rides, going out with our new identities, and telling me stories about mum and dad… you’ve been doing great.”
Harry’s praise has Sirius feeling like a good dog that made his owner happy, and he almost blushes, but instead just smiles. “Okay, kid, you win. I just thought it could be something else…”
Harry pauses his game to turn to him, “I’d be delighted to teach you, I just like the idea of you keeping me around ‘cause I feed you.”
Sirius laughs because he’s half-sure Harry is joking, “You don’t have to feed me for me to want you around kid.” He ruffles Harry’s hair. “Besides, we do have Missy, who’s been taking care of things.”
“So, you tell me every day,” Harry blushes. “I was only half-joking. I know that you don’t need that. I’m just… I kind of like the idea of … this being something I do for you...” he trails off and mutters something about ‘earning his keep’ which causes Sirius to frown.
“What was that last bit, Harry?”
“It’s not important,” Harry states. Then because he clearly wants to avoid whatever he said, he adds, “You know, I learned that you liked crosswords from spying on the Minister when I snuck into Hogsmeade and almost got caught. He mentioned it and the fact that you’re my godfather.”
Sirius grimaces, he hadn’t realized that was how Harry had heard, he had hoped it had been Petunia or Remus. “Oh kid, that’s how you found out? At the same time that you also discovered what the world thought I did?”
Harry nods, “I was pretty angry at you – it hurt to think that they were betrayed by their best friend and the day after Ron and Hermione had to talk me out of going after you.” He pauses, looking down, “I wanted you dead – I am still surprised that I couldn’t do it after the things first and second year and then… I talked you into not killing Pettigrew and now…”
“Hey, kid, it’s not your fault,” Sirius states, stopping him from thinking that he was responsible for the war just because he had stopped Sirius and Remus from killing Pettigrew. “You did the right thing – if we had killed him, then we wouldn’t be here right now because I would’ve gone back to prison and that would’ve sucked for all of us.”
“Yeah, true, but he –”
“Is at fault for his own actions. He chose to go after Voldemort and that’s his own damn fault. It’s not yours. You are not responsible for other people’s actions,” Sirius states. “Otherwise, it’s really my fault – I could have gotten him from Ron sooner or Remus could have remembered his potion or something – it’s not on you, you made the right decision.”
Harry shrugs, “I guess.”
Sirius nods, slightly before giving him a look when he realizes that he had gotten distracted from Harry’s muttered words. “So, kid, back to what you mumbled before…”
“It’s not important – have you always loved the crossword or were you just bored because you’d gotten enough of your magic back?”
“Kid,” Sirius states, giving him a look. “I want to know what you said and then I’ll answer your question.”
Harry sighs, clearly annoyed. “Fine. I said that I wanted to earn my keep.”
“What would make you think –” he stops, realizing that Harry likely cooks because it was one of his chores. “That bitch. Harry, listen to me, you do not have to do any chores to ‘earn your keep’. I take care of you – you don’t have to do anything that you don’t want to do – I don’t need you to ‘earn your keep’ any good guardian would never make you feel that way.”
Harry looks up at him, surprised. “So, you – you don’t want me to – to cook or clean and stuff?”
“Only if you like to cook, but if you don’t then – that’s just fine. We’ve got Missy and we don’t need you to cook. I thought you liked it – if that’s not the case…”
“No, I do,” Harry assures him. “I just also figured that I could earn my keep, too. Make sure that I was worth it to you.”
Sirius’ heart breaks at those words. His godson should absolutely not feel like he has to earn his keep or make sure he’s worth it to Sirius because he was just for being Harry. “Aw, kid, I’m so sorry that you felt like you had do earn it or something because you are worth it. Just for being Harry, my godson. You don’t – you never should’ve had to feel that way.”
Harry frowns, “But you – you wouldn’t let me pay for anything and you bought me all these things…”
“Things that you should’ve had from the get-go and things that you deserve. Things that I should’ve provided for you a long time ago. You deserve so much better than this, Harry.”
Sirius is upset by the revelations, determined more than ever to make sure that Harry feels love and gets to have the best summer of his life.
Harry nods, uncertainly. “Thank you, Sirius. You – you have done so much for me, and I appreciate it.”
“And you deserve it, you know that right?”
“I do now,” Harry assures him. “And you know if you’re … if you wanted to learn how to cook so that we’re doing something together instead – I do think it’d be cool to show you.”
“Yeah?” Sirius questions, liking the idea. “Because I think we could make it fun – even make a huge mess that Missy will enjoy cleaning up.”
Harry grins, “It’ll be nice to have that rather than being the one that has to do the cleaning up.”
“Good. Then let’s do it.”
***
The kitchen was a mess. They’re both laughing their arses off about the fact that they are both covered in flower and somehow managed to get it everywhere.
“Is this really how you make biscuits?” Sirius teases.
“It’s not my fault,” Harry jokes, flicking some flower at him. “You’re the one that took the mixing bowl from me trying to show off your lame mixing skills.”
“They’re not lame!” Sirius insists, laughing. “How hard is it to mix ingredients together?”
“Judging by the state of the kitchen – very hard.”
“Cute, kid,” Sirius states, still smiling. “Maybe we should try something simpler.”
“I picked something that I thought was easy to teach you – you didn’t you say that you used to watch dad cook?” Harry questions.
“I did,” Sirius states. “It’s just – I didn’t memorize how he did it… besides you’re the teacher here.”
Harry laughs, “Are you saying that I’m a bad teacher because I’ve got some references that say otherwise.”
Sirius laughs, “I suppose you do… maybe you’re better at teaching DADA than teaching me to cook.”
“Maybe I had better students,” Harry teases, flicking more flower at him. “But seriously, we can try again? Maybe try cooking dinner instead?”
Sirius grins, “Sounds brilliant. Let’s get Missy to clean this up first.”
Missy appears and it’s clean within moments.
Harry laughs, “Wow, I love magic.”
“Me too,” Sirius states. “I have certainly taken it for granted, but I love it. Makes life easier.”
“Definitely.”
Once they’re both back on their feet, Harry says, “Let’s cook something simple – pasta with meat sauce and garlic bread. Since I like homemade sauce, we can make a whole pot of it and then whatever we don’t eat we can save for later.”
Sirius grins, “Sounds good, Chef.”
Harry laughs, “I’m not a chef, I just … happened to enjoy cooking.”
“I’m glad you managed to like something that you had to do.”
“Me too,” Harry states, before pulling him to beside the stove. “So, cooking a new sauce from scratch is going to take some time. We start breaking up the ground beef into this large saucepan with the onion, garlic and green pepper until it’s all cooked. It’s only going to take a few minutes.”
“And then what?”
“Well, then we’ll put it in a nice pot with tomato sauce and a few other flavors and simmer it for a while, cooking it nice and slow.”
“Alright then,” Sirius shrugs.
Harry smiles, “And once we feel like we’re close to having it ready, we’ll boil some water for the pasta and cook it. It’s the easy bit and we’ll turn on the toaster oven for garlic bread. We can spend some time mixing the ingredients for the garlic part of the bread in the meantime.”
“Okay, sounds good.”
A little while later, the sauce is starting to finish, so Harry puts on the pot of water and turns on the toaster oven. He helps Sirius coat their garlic bread before offering him a taste of the sauce.
“What do you think?”
Sirius smiles, “I think you’re a good cook. How do you know it from memory?”
Harry smiles, “I didn’t really get to keep many things that I liked – they weren’t big on me being happy. So, I had to think about it and sort of get the idea of it without help.”
“Well, you did a great job,” Sirius praises. “Because this is really good.”
Harry preens under the praise reminding Sirius that Harry hasn’t gotten a lot of praise growing up and that he should do it more often. “Thanks, Sirius.”
It’s quite for a bit before Sirius says, “Oh, look, the pot’s boiling.”
“Right, so we take a fistful of the pasta and break it in half like this and put it in the pot,” Harry says as he breaks the pasta and puts it in the pot.
Sirius smiles as he, too, grabs a fistful and does the same. Then he watches as Harry puts the garlic bread into the toaster oven. “The pasta usually takes twenty minutes so we’ll have some time before it’ll be done – we just have to watch it, stirring it and such.”
“And what would you like to do while we’re waiting?” Sirius questions.
“You could tell me more about your crossword habit?” Harry probes, clearly caring enough to get to know Sirius more than as his protector, which makes Sirius smile.
“Well, I – I was always curious and sort-of needed distractions sometimes, and I stumbled across the crossword. Suddenly, it kept my attention for a while and helped me a lot. It’s like it gives me a focus away from my other thoughts sometimes. You know – like needing to forget about my mother’s howler or my brother’s distance at school.”
“Oh, that makes sense – I used my broomstick servicing kit that Hermione bought me for my thirteenth birthday to distract me from Marge’s tirades about me or my parents when she visited… it didn’t work the last night though.”
“That’s the night I saw you?” Sirius questions.
Harry nods, refocusing on the sauce. “It was – I had enough. I accidentally blew her up. I thought I was a fugitive because Dobby had gotten me into trouble the year before… it was a mess, but it worked out.”
“Hmm-mm,” Sirius hums. He can tell that Harry doesn’t want to go into the details and he won’t force it. “Well, yeah, like that.”
“So, then, we should get you some more crosswords – muggles have entire books of them, so you don’t have to get them just from the paper,” Harry offers.
“But wouldn’t they include muggle things – things that I wouldn’t know.” Harry frowns, looking upset that Sirius didn’t like his idea, so he adds, “But you know, it would be great to learn. We could do them together?”
His offer is rewarded with a grin, “Don’t worry, you’ll know lots of muggle things by the end of the summer!”
Sirius grins, “Good, I look forward to it.”
“Dinner’s done,” Harry states after a minute. “Time to eat the delicious meal we cooked.”
“Good. Thank you for teaching me, kid.”
“Anytime,” Harry replies with a grin as they settle down to eat their delicious homecooked meal.
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