Padfoot

Within the hidden building of the Ministry of Magic, in the heart of London, deep down in the Department of Mysteries, all was quiet; well you would expect something like that, to be the case when the time was midnight. Bar from a few Unspeakables that where in secluded areas of the Department, it was empty. Within one room, though there was the sound of whisperings coming from a mysterious veil. Some people thought that it was the doorway to the realm of the Dead; some people thought it captured people's souls. However what is it is, is in fact a prison, though the knowledge of it was thought to have been long lost.

Suddenly in the Death Room as it was known was a flash of fire and the empty room was no longer empty, within it stood four beings of Light, two Wizards and two Phoenixes', and surprisingly they were evenly aged, a young wizard and his bonded Phoenix both on the edge of Adulthood. The other wizard was over a century old and his bonded phoenix was centuries older, though how old he had never told.

The younger wizard looked nervous as he walked towards the veil, if someone else was in the room, looking from the stands they would have thought that the young wizard was going to walk into the veil...

As Harry stood in front of the Veil that had been in his dreams every night since Sirius had fallen through, he could not feel anything but fear.

"Harry, remember you are not alone, I will always be with you, and soon your godfather will return to you, have faith"

"Your right Lily thanks." Replied Harry before turning and looking at Albus, who gave him a reassuring smile and a firm nod of the head of encouragement

"He is a strong child Albus" spoke Fawkes to Albus

"Yes, but I fear that he is a child no longer, my old friend" was his reply

"Yes he is already taking his first steps of adulthood, but I feel that he will do great things, greater than even you managed to accomplish my friend. but he will need guidance, he will look to you, you must be there for when he needs you, and try not to protect him too much he needs to have the responsibilities, you have begun this but you must continue on this path, when he leaves for training, have him bring the young Griffin cub. He must begin to bond with it, having a Griffin bonded to him will aid both himself and the griffin species which is dying out at an alarming rate,"

"Yes, I see, we wizards must being to correct the mistakes we have made, well then let us begin..." finished Albus who turned to look at Harry who was standing before the veil

Suddenly the room was filled with a strong wind, the veil flapped wildly and a commanding voice filled the air "Sirius Orion Black return to those that love you, you have committed no crime!" suddenly a black figure fell through the veil. As he hit the ground unconscious, the winds stopped and the veil calmed down and returned to its normal swaying.

Without waiting Harry ran over towards Sirius, he was lying unconscious, there was tears of joy in his eyes, as the man that he look to as a sort of father figure had returned to him.

Walking up to him, Albus' eyes were twinkling with joy, Sirius had been a savvier loss not just to Harry but the Wizarding World, for all his joking around Sirius was actually a strong Wizard and knew the workings of the Wizarding Government, as was his training when he was being brought up, until he was Sorted into Gryffindor.

As Lily landed on Harry's shoulder and Albus placed his hand on the young man's shoulder before his own Phoenix burst into flame and they all disappeared, without anyone knowing that they had ever been there. Had they been found, Albus would have just used his power as the reinstated head of the Wizengamot to say that he was helping the new Lord adjust to a grief he had recently had in this room.

As the sun began to show signs of rising, Harry stirred himself from sitting beside the bedside of his Godfather. They had returned to Hogwarts to Harry's room, which seemed to have had another bedroom he didn't know about, until Hogwarts informed him she had created the room for his use. Sirius lay there sleeping peacefully, Harry noticed he looked young again as he slept that the years in Azkaban had fallen away. Harry and Albus had discussed making it known that Sirius had returned, but had decided to leave it for the moment, they would take Sirius to the Mansion when they left for training so we would have five months to recover and regain strength, and even train up a little. They hadn't even took him to the Hospital wing, Albus had performed a series of spells on him to check his health and it said that he was find no immediate dangers.

Harry and Albus had sat and talked for a few hours after they had returned from the Ministry, they would leave this evening for the Mansion, it was a day or so early but everything was in order that had to be done at the moment. The letters for the coming year would be sent out this morning, the house elves where going to do some work on the castle cleaning it and helping prepare it for the coming year, though they had a month they felt it would be more than enough time. Albus had sent out notes to those that would be going to the Mansion to be ready to leave for six o'clock that evening, Harry was going to pack up Rose's things and take them to Grimmauld Place along with Rose, while at the same time picking up Ginny. Albus had requested that Harry bring the baby Griffin with them, Hagrid would bring him up to the castle before he left to go to France for the rest of the summer, to see Madame Maxime.

When Harry went through to Rose's bedroom he found that Winky had packed up everything of Rose's into Harry's old school trunk while leaving out a change of clothes for the little girl who would be turning one in September, the fifteen to be exact. Harry found Rose to be awake when he went in this morning; she was smiling fondly as she looked up at Harry.

"Hello Rosie, today you're going to go and stay with Aunty Molly and Uncle Arthur for a wee while." Said Harry sadly he was going to miss her but he knew he had to go and train, he was having Winky stay at Grimmauld Place while he was away, in case anything happened she could protect her with her Elvin magic and get her to safety.

Half an hour later, Harry appeared in the kitchen of Grimmauld Place, it was still empty, well it was until Winky popped into the kitchen.

"Hello Harry, Rose's room is all ready, does you want Winky to take her belonging up there?"

"Sure Winky, but could you leave it till later and maybe start some breakfast, I don't have too long, as you know I am leaving to go training today, and I want you to protect Rose if the house is somehow attacked."

"Of course Harry, Winky will protect Harry's Rose."

"Thank you Winky, I'm glad I know she is in safe hands now"

At this Winky seemed to swell up with pride and began to make breakfast,

"Winky, I meant to say, I heard that some people who own House Elves limit their use of magic am I correct?"

"Yes Harry, Winky's old master didn't let Winky use much of her magic unless it was to control the young master" said Winky while she was preparing eggs.

"Well so you know that you can use magic whenever you want for me, it is your right to use your powers and I am not going to stop you," said Harry

Winky began to glow slightly at being told this, she seemed to grow slightly and her ears receded slightly, not they didn't look like bats wings.

"Winky what happened?"

"Harry, has told Winky is free to use her Magic, and doing such a thing had freed Winky from the old restraints that she has had put on her all her life" said Winky glowing with pride.

Suddenly she threw herself at Harry and hugged him in thanks, "Thank you Master Harry"

"No problem though I see that I will have to say this to the other elves"

"Master Harry, is indeed a great Wizard" said Winky before turning and clicking her fingers in rapid succession and many things began happening, cleaning supplies flew over to the table and began scrubbing it and it was coming up like it was brand new, the food was being prepared steadily. Winky just stood where she was standing and looked on the room with approval.

It was not long before three red head Weasley's entered the Kitchen, who still half-asleep the other beginning to get ready to prepare breakfast until she saw what was going on in the kitchen. The table was laden with food for breakfast and all the pots and pans that had been used where in the process of being cleaned on their own. Harry was sitting there at the table talking to a changed Winky and giving Rose her morning feed.

"Morning Harry dear, what's happened here" asked Molly

"Well I came here this morning to drop Rose off and ask Ginny to pack as we are leaving for training tonight at Six if not before and I came to drop off Rose, and I was talking to Winky asking her if Masters of House Elves limit their use of their Magic. Which she informed me they do so I told her that I don't want that and she can use her Magic which is her to use as she chooses just like a Witch or Wizard can do."

"Oh right, well this breakfast looks delicious," said Molly sitting down and beginning to eat.

It was around twelve before Harry and Ginny returned to Hogwarts, after spending come time with Rose, while Ginny packed up some of her things. After Rose went down for her nap, Harry kissed her goodbye before going to Sirius' room to pick up some clothes for Sirius, though seeing that they were all worn out he asked Dobby. After telling him, what he told Winky that morning about using his Magic, which changed him slightly as well, if he could go and get Sirius new clothes, to be charged to his account.

The residents in the castle where just sitting down to lunch so they joined them. Just as they were about to start eating, Hagrid came in with the baby Griffin in his arms. It had not grown much.

"There ye' are 'arry, here's the little tyke here fir ye, it's a pity they're so ra'e would be good tae ha'e a few more of 'em around, but anyway I need to get goin' and get Grawp before the Portkey leaves fir France"

"Enjoy yourself Hagrid" Harry said giving his friend a quick hug.

Everyone else in the hall wished Hagrid an enjoyable holiday. After Hagrid left, Harry picked up baby Griffin that was currently sleeping and sat with it on his lap and carried on with his lunch.

"Albus something interesting happened this morning while I was at Headquarters, I was talking to Winky, I had remembered hearing that some Masters limit their use of the Elves own Magic, I asked Winky if that had been done to her, I informed her that she could use her Magic how she wanted. After I had said that she glowed and changed, I don't know what I did but I said the same to Dobby, and the same has happened to him, he grew in height and his ears shrunk, they are no longer bat like and his eyes aren't are large. They both seemed happier and stronger than I ever had before."

"Interesting," was all Albus said

"I was thinking about saying the same to all the other Elves that see me as their Master now, I feel it's only fare, I'm not saying that the Elf's of Hogwarts are unhappy. But I want them to be able to be able to use their magic freely, as much as it is a Wizard or Witches right to use their own Magic."

"I quiet agree, well seeing as we are all finished here why not call out for your Elf's," said Albus more than a little curious to see what will happen to these mistreated creatures.

"Dobby"

There was a sort pop before the new looking Dobby was before him

"Yes Harry Potter, what can Dobby be doing for you?"

"Dobby, could you please ask all the Elf's that I own and bring them here please," asked Harry

"Yes Harry Potter but you could just call them as one, just call out "Elf's" they will hear you and come to you Harry Potter Sir," said Dobby, who's voice seemed to be less higher than before.

"Elf's" Harry called out uncertain to see if it would work.

Suddenly there was a lot of popping in the Great Hall, and Harry was surrounded by House Elf's more than he had ever seen before.

"Eh... Hi"

"Master Potter, sir" the Elf's cried out in unison, before bowing.

"Please call me Harry, or Harry Potter but I have neglected my duties to you and for that I apologise. But I am here to tell you a few things, first of all none of you are to ever punish yourselves, no matter what the cause if you feel you need punished come to me, if anyone tells you to punish yourself do not do it come and speak to me. I will not have any of you hurt, in addition if you ever have any problems that you can't solve come and see me and we will see what we can do together. For that reason, it has come to my attention that you may have been told at one time or another that you are not allowed to use all of your Magic, but I am here to tell you different. From now on, you are free to use your magic as you choose, it is your gift and right to use it so use it and be happy." Said Harry not knowing what else to say but there was nothing else to be said, it had all been said.

Suddenly the Great Hall was full of glowing House Elf's, they all began to change, they all changed like Dobby and Winky had, after a few minutes the glowing stopped and the Hall returned to normal light.

Albus looked around stunned to see what had just happened nothing like this had ever happened before for his knowledge.

It took nearly an hour to get the Elves to go back about their business, with only one request that they wear proper clothes, no pillowcase's or towels, but elf robes with the Hogwarts crest on it and have the costs to be charged to his account.

After the Elf's where gone, Harry looked at the others with dumbfounded looks on their faces,

"Well that was interesting," was all Albus could say, while placing a hand on Harry's shoulders before walking out of the Hall to go and pack and re-watch what he had just seen in his Pensieve.

As Albus walked out the door, the table cleared and was being scrubbed clean by magical scrubbing brushes.

The rest of the day went by smoothly while the others that where leaving for the Mansion packed, Harry had Dobby and Abby move Sirius to one of the rooms within the Mansion, with the clothes that Dobby had brought for Sirius.

It was later in the day when Harry, Albus, Minerva, Remus, Filius, Tonks and Ginny were all standing in the living Room of Harry's quarters.

"Well it looks like we are all here, with an hour to spare," said Albus looking at his watch.

"Were are we going Albus?" asked Remus,

"All in good time dear Remus all in good time, everything shall be explained shortly" said Albus looking to Harry and nodded.

"Please follow me, it's time I guess" said Harry walking over to the door to the Mansion

As he opened the door and walked through, he gestured his arms in a mock bow and said

"Welcome to Potter Mansion, the Ancestral home of the Potter Family"

"How can this be Potter Mansion, I had been to your father's home when we were at school and it was not here?" said Remus

"It has been kept a secret from everyone, not even my dad knew about this place," said Harry.

"Wow, how come we got here through Hogwarts?" asked Ginny

"Well I access the mansion through a cube I got, I solved the cube and it opened up the door to here" said Harry.

"Why don't we go into the Dining Hall and we can sit and discuss this" said Albus who was enjoying himself in this new experience, this was nothing he had ever done before in his long life and he was going to enjoy it, the only thing that clouded it was the reason why they were having to do this.

"Good idea," said Harry walking into the Hall, which was full of food for a feast

As they walked in there was clapping from around the walls, as Harry's ancestors greeted their guests.

"Harry who are these people?" asked Tonks

"My family," was all Harry said as he strode towards, where Abby and Dobby where standing at the head of the table.

"Guys, what's going on here?" asked Harry

"Well Harry Potter sir, Master Godric, said that Harry Potter hadn't had the feast that each new master gets when he takes control of the Mansion, and as we knew you would be coming with guest for training, we thought we'd as wait until you is come here for training." Said Abby bowing.

"Oh right, thanks" said Harry a little caught off guard.

"Take a seat Harry, and we'll explain everything to these guests of yours" said John from his Portrait.

It took the whole of dinner to explain about the Mansion, and what they were going to do, with help from Albus, Godric, Rowena and John, Harry was able to explain everything, the only thing he had left out was Sirius, which he was going to leave until later. After dinner Harry initiated the time difference spell on the Mansion so that they were now running five days to every one day outside.

Abby, insisted on taking everyone a tour of the Mansion once Dinner was over, the others bar Albus had been very quiet at first taking in everything they were being told, and meeting two of the Hogwarts founders had been a shock. Ginny smiled knowingly at Harry, who had yet to bring out the Portraits of the other two Founders. As the toured through the Mansion, Harry paid attention as he had not seen the full Mansion yet.

They stopped at the Library, the living room, rooms that the old Masters of the Mansion had made their own. There was even a Room of Requirement, a Potions lab which had a store room attached to it and was full of all different types of cauldrons, a weapon room, there was also a exercise room, a duelling room, there where a series of small offices. Which Abby said would be set aside for each of the guests to use to work in peace, there were a few work shop rooms, for what purpose Abby didn't say, they had finally gotten to the bedrooms, they were all getting tired. Though they were surprised to find their names on the doors to their room, though what surprised some was two names that shared the same room.

Albus Dumbledore and Minerva McGonagall

"Well my dear it looks like the cats out of the bag as they say" said Albus looking at his Wife.

"Yes, well Filius already knew and the rumors have been going around the school for years, I think we can trust these two to keep the secret," said Minerva looking over her glasses at Harry and Ginny

With that Albus and Minerva bade everyone goodnight and went to into their room, next a few doors down they found Filius' room as the small Professor bid them good night and went into his room, Harry, Ginny and Remus carried on down the corridor. until they came to the door with Ginny's name on it,after bidding the young witch goodnight with a quick hug Harry carried on down the Hall with a different destination in mind that the man's bedroom.

When Harry stopped at a door with no name on it, Remus was wondering what was going on. But before Harry entered the room he turned to Remus

"Remus I have something to show you, its going to come as a shock but its real I don't know how to say this but he's alive Remus, alive" said Harry looking at the man with his heart in his eyes.

"Who is Harry? Who's alive?" said Remus worried about Harry scared incase something had gone wrong and the boy had lost his mind

"Sirius! He's alive Remus and he's behind this door sleeping. Here look." Said Harry opening the door into the candle lit room

Sleeping on a four poster double bed was Sirius Black looking peaceful, perched on the front of the bed was Lily and Fawkes who had been singing a soft lament to Sirius, it is said that Phoenix's have a healing power in the singing as well as in their tears, but it had not been seen before in recent times. Though Sirius had not been injured during the battle in the department of mysteries he had the hurt on his soul from the years he had been wrongfully imprisoned in Azkaban.

As Remus came to the side of the bed that Sirius was lying in, the two Phoenix's finished their song and then in a flash of fire both had disappeared from the room. It was also at that moment that Sirius opened his eyes.

"Where...where the... hell am i? Mooney? Harry? Why aren't I..." but he didn't get a chance to finish his sentence as Harry flung himself at his godfather and hugged him tight, with tears in his eyes.

Sirius was back and he was safe and healthy.

Sirius looked down at his godson clinging onto him, crying incoherently

"Siriusi'msosorryit'sallmyfaultithoughtyouwheredead"

"Wow cub, what's all this about it wasn't your fault, it was mine I should have paid more attention rather than taunting Bella, so Harry it's no one else's fault but my own do you understand?" said Sirius. Who though he didn't know the outcome of what had happened at the Ministry he could see that his godsons distress was more important at this moment that what the outcome of the events that happened within the department of mysteries.

Harry seemed to calm down slightly but did not relent his hold of Sirius, Sirius deciding to leave Harry as he is looked to Remus, who was smiling with tears in his eyes, he thought that when Sirius had went through the veil that he was all alone in the world again, but now he had hope.

"So Mooney, what have I missed," asked Sirius

"Oh where to begin, my dear Padfoot where to begin," and with that Remus sat down in the seat next to Sirius' bed and began talking about everything that had happened since the events of the Ministry, its was going to be a long night, but Sirius was conent he was alive, free, though in some unknown place together with his Godson and his oldest friend.

As Sirius and Remus began to talk, they noticed that Harry had fallen asleep hugging Sirius, Remus motioned to take Harry to his room, but Sirius stopped him with a wave of his hand and motioned for him to begin his story.