Disclaimer: disclaiming ownership of HP. Woo-hoo

Chapter 1

A Singularly Stupid Idea, Sirius Style

In dog form, Sirius paced back and forth across the cold cell floor. He couldn't believe Peter had gotten away with it. Even after all these years he could hardly believe that everyone had been fooled too easily into believing he, James Potter's closest friend since first year at Hogwarts, had betrayed him. Sirius growled. Peter should have been a Slytherin. He would have fit right in.

Sirius wanted to keep pacing, his anger and frustration fueling him instead of food, but he knew he shouldn't. He needed to conserve his strength.

But for what? he thought morosely as he collapsed on the ground, anger replaced by despair amplified by the cold atmosphere of Azkaban. Thankfully, being in his animagus form weakened the dementors' effects on him, but that did nothing to shield him from the depressing atmosphere of Azkaban as a whole.

Resting his chin on his paws, Sirius's mind wandered, not for the first time, back to the newspaper he'd seen just a few days ago. The guards had been taunting him, as they often did. This last time they had been talking loudly about how James Potter was doing well, very alive, and so was his son. The guards, of course, had no idea that this was a very comforting piece of information for Sirius. What was depressing though was the fact that they were celebrating Julian Potter's seventh birthday without him.

It did tell him how long he'd been here though. Six years now. Six years in this hell hole. Well, almost. It would be six years in a couple of months, once they reached Halloween. But something else had been bothering Sirius. He had asked to see the newspaper, and after a bit of cajoling they had tossed it to him, watching his reaction carefully.

Sirius had snatched the paper like a starving man, which he was, but this time starved for information. He had read the article over and over, taking in the reverence and awe of the Boy-Who-Lived, the bravery of his poor father James, how horrible Sirius Black was, and how thankful they were the He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named was gone. But one thing was missing—a name. The name had been missing from the few other papers he'd seen over the years.

Sirius had scowled at the paper, anger and frustration churning in his chest as he threw the newspaper back through the bars.

Giving a huge dog-sigh, Sirius deflated. It was like he didn't even exist. Surely someone would have mentioned him? Just his name, or maybe his status as twin. He would definitely have been mentioned if Voldemort had killed him… right?

A whine escaped Sirius on accident. What had happened to him? Was he alright? Was he alive?

Where was Harry Potter?

.o.0.O.0.o.

Potter Manor was huge. Sometimes, James felt, it was just too big, especially when it was inhabited by three bachelors; James, Julian, and Remus. But it was necessary. Their home in Godric's Hollow had been decimated, and would take a lot of time and work to rebuild with all the protective enchantments. Plus, it was the place where Lily had died, and that made it hard for James to be there. Potter Manor had been the next best option, surrounded with a plethora of defensive, warding, and protective enchantments and complete with all the space needed for Julian's training.

James lounged back comfortably in his chair, watching his son. They were outside, basking in the summer sun, while Remus coached Julian on the use of wordless magic. James grinned at the sight. It wasn't working well. Julian didn't have a very long attention span, and while he applied himself as well as he could, concentrating was a bit difficult for him.

He could tell Remus was getting ready to give up on his godson, and save this lesson for a later date. After all, Julian was only seven, and while talented, and hadn't shown the unprecedented amount of power the general public believed he had.

"James!" a voice called.

James startled and sat bolt upright in his chair, stiffening up before he recognized the voice as Arthur Weasley. James had given the Weasleys access to the Potter Manor's floo just this year, and still got a little nervous when they arrived unannounced, though it wasn't often since they didn't like to intrude, not matter how many times James insisted they come whenever they liked.

"Ron!" Julian called happily, abandoning his godfather and running over to greet his friend.

James smiled at his happy son and stood from his chair. "Arthur," he greeted genially. "What brings you here?"

"The boys haven't seen each other in a while," Arthur explained easily, but his shoulders were a bit tense. "I thought we could talk while they played."

"Yay!" Julian cheered, before waving a quick goodbye dragging Ron away.

Remus came up behind James, eyes shining with concern. "Is something wrong, Arthur? You usually don't show up like this."

Arthur's easy expression turned grim, and James's gut clenched.

"What is it?" James asked, gritting his teeth and mentally preparing himself for bad news.

Arthur sighed heavily and answered, "A few days ago, Sirius Black escaped Azkaban."

For a moment the words didn't fully register, and both of Sirius's former friends were shocked into silence.

"What?" James managed to choke out. "H-how… that's…"

"That's not possible," Remus breathed, seemingly more composed than James. "No one's ever escaped Azkaban."

"Sirius Black has," Arthur reiterated. "Only Merlin knows how, but he's done it. One day he was there, and the next he wasn't."

"B-but… why now?" James asked. "If he could escape, why wait six years?"

Arthur shrugged. "We don't know yet. The Aurors are looking into it, talking to the guards, but as far as Dumbledore knows, he gave everyone the slip. It'll probably be in the Prophet in the next few days, and you'll probably be asked for an interview, but Dumbledore thought you should know before everyone else did."

James didn't know what to say. 'Thank you' just didn't seem right, because James almost wished he could live in ignorant bliss. Sirius had escaped. His once best friend, who had turned traitor and betrayed them to Voldemort to be murdered was on the loose.

"Thank you, Arthur," Remus said for James. "Thank you for coming all this way to tell us."

Arthur nodded. "It was nothing. Ron is always eager for the opportunity to see Julian."

"Does Dumbledore know what he might be after? Or who?" James asked, even as he worried that the answer was running around the yard.

Arthur shook his head. "Not yet. But I'm sure you'll be the first to know."

That James could be thankful for, and said so.

Arthur stayed for a couple of hours, conversing about little things with James and Remus while Julian and Ron played. James was glad for the Weasley boy's friendship with his son. Julian was aware, even on a small level, why he was being trained, and it wasn't happy thought. Plus, Julian didn't get too many opportunities to get out. They were always worried about retaliation from Death Eaters or blood purists, thought, thankfully, that worry was receding. Julian spent most of his time with just James and Remus.

"We should take the boys to meet Neville Longbottom some time," Arthur commented, seemingly out of the blue. But then James realized that the conversation had lapsed and they were all staring at the two boys running around with un-enchanted brooms, pretending to play Quidditch.

"Frank and Alice's son?" Remus asked.

Arthur nodded in confirmation. "He lives with his grandmother now, and it would do the boys good to have another friend."

"Yes, it would," James agreed. "I can't imagine Neville sees many other boys his age living with Augusta Longbottom."

Arthur chuckled. "Indeed not."

After that they gave the two boys the ten minute warning, and the Weasleys left soon after. Remus and James opted on telling Julian a bare-bone, watered-down version (as they often decided to do) of what Sirius Black had done to their family. James hated to keep his son in the dark, even if it meant exposing him to the Dark, so they told him.

.o.0.O.0.o.

Morning saw Sirius padding down the sidewalk of Little Whinging, intent on one thing: find Harry Potter. He just had to make sure he was alive. With an old Black family wand Sirius had taken from one of the many Black houses, Sirius had used a few well-placed glamours and clever cover stories to inquire about the Potter family.

No one had even heard of Harry. It was like he disappeared. No, not died, people would have known. Just disappeared. He wasn't with James, Sirius had concluded, unless his former best friend had locked him up in the Potter Manor, which Sirius found hard to believe.

According to public knowledge, the Potters generally kept to themselves to avoid the few Death Eaters ready to retaliate. Thankfully, the Potters hadn't been attacked (as far as the public knew) for some time, but they still played it safe.

But still, not even a whisper of Harry.

So Sirius searched. He visited everywhere he could think of under different disguises, but still couldn't find Harry. Now he was here, looking for Lily's sister, Petunia Dursley nee Evans, who now lived on 4 Privet Drive, if Sirius memory served. He dearly hoped he was wrong about this, but he was running out of places to look. James couldn't have been stupid enough to leave Harry with Petunia of all people? This was answered soon enough.

Sirius heard her before he saw her.

"FREAK!" Petunia Dursley screeched.

The sound, for some reason, sent a jolt of urgency through Sirius's dog-heart, and he ran the rest of the way down the street. Loping up to the house (and trampling on Petunia's flowers), Sirius put two paws up on the sill of an open window, which let in the cool autumn breeze.

"I d-don't know h-how it did it, Aunt Petunia…" an achingly familiar black-haired boy was saying, staring fearfully up a disturbingly familiar horse-faced woman.

"I DON'T BELIEVE YOU!" Petunia raged.

She kept screaming, but Sirius wasn't paying attention to what she was saying. Instead he watched the little boy cowering at her feet. Here he was. Harry. At last. He was so small. He seemed to hardly have grown in the past six years. His big green eyes though, looked so old, not nearly as joyful as Lily's had been. But his messy black hair was all James. His face looking a lot like James too, so much Sirius could almost swear he was looking back in time.

Except that James had never been treated like this. He had had a wonderful childhood with loving parents. He never looked so scared.

And Sirius was suddenly quite angry. Dropping down from the window, Sirius stepped back a few paces (trampling Petunia's flowers) and tensed. With a huge heave, Sirius sprang through the open window and crashed into the living room.

Petunia screamed, "VERNON!"

Sirius stumbled a little bit, trying to regain his renegade equilibrium. That wasn't exactly his most graceful leap.

"OUT, YOU MUTT, OUT!" voices screamed.

Re-orienting himself, Sirius had just enough time to dodge a flying vase. Sirius snarled as Petunia screamed again, and leaped forward, straight at the Dursleys.

Vernon had appeared, and now both he and his wife scrambled back as Sirius advanced.

Sirius just wanted to get himself between those infernal relatives of Lily's and Harry.

Petunia screeched again.

That was annoying. Ah well, better milk it for all its worth, Sirius decided. He transformed. Going from mangy grim-like dog to wretched-looking escaped convict was apparently too much for Petunia. She fainted. Without screaming, Sirius was quite satisfied to note.

Vernon looked like he couldn't believe his eyes. "Y-y-you, y-y-you f-f-freak."

"Piss off, Dursley," Sirius ordered. "I'd like a word with my godson."

Trembling, Vernon grabbed Petunia and exited quickly.

"Ah, good," Sirius said. Then he turned around to look at Harry.

Harry looked up at him with wide, astonished green eyes. Not fearful anymore, just shocked.

Crouching down to Harry's height, Sirius grinned (hoping he didn't look deranged) and held out his hand. "Hello there, Harry, I'm Sirius Black, your godfather."

Harry's eyes looked about ready to pop out of his head, but he seriously took Sirius hand and shook it. "Nice to meet you, sir."

"None of this 'sir' stuff," Sirius admonished. "You just call me Sirius, Harry."

"Okay," Harry agreed, gracing Sirius with a small smile.

"Well what do you know?" Sirius exclaimed, staring at that smile. "That smile of yours is all Lily!"

Harry's eyes got impossibly wider. "Like… like my mum?"

"Of course, hasn't anyone ever told you that?" Sirius asked.

Shyly Harry shook his head.

Sirius huffed. He had a bone to pick with Petunia over this. "Well, you do," Sirius declared. "And you're the spitting image of your father, I tell you. Except for your mother's eyes, of course."

"Really?" Harry breathed.

"Really," Sirius echoed, grinning at his godson. How could Harry not know any of this though? Sirius wondered, smile slipping. "Harry…" Sirius began slowly. "I came here to check up on you, make sure you're alright."

"Oh," Harry said uncertainly, gaze dropping to the floor.

"Harry," Sirius prodded. "Hasn't anyone come to check up on you before?"

"No," Harry breathed. "Were the s'posed to?"

Sirius scowled. "Yes, Harry, they should have. Your dad should have, at least."

Harry looked up sharply. "My dad's alive?"

It took a moment for that to sink in. Then Sirius jaw dropped. "You thought he was dead?"

Harry nodded. "That's what Aunt Petunia said."

"What?!" Sirius said, aghast. How could Petunia let him believe that?

"She said both my parents were dead," Harry explained. "She said I didn't have any family."

"She didn't even tell you about your brother?" Sirius asked, though he already knew the answer. Merlin, how could this have happened?

Now Harry's jaw dropped. "I have a brother too?!"

"Harry, tell me what you know about your family and why you're here," Sirius commanded grimly.

"Um, well, Aunt Petunia said my parents died in a car crash," Harry said hesitantly. "And that they took me in when I was one. And… they said I'm a freak just like them. That's all."

Don't explode, don't explode, you'll scare Harry, don't explode, Sirius chanted inwardly. "Harry none of that's true at all. Your mother was… she was killed by an evil man. Your dad and your twin are hiding from him, since the evil man was trying to kill your brother. And they were wizards, Harry, just like you are I'm sure, not freaks. Although they did take you in when you were one."

Harry was silent for a moment, digesting that information. "But then," Harry began slowly. "If my dad's alive, why am I here?"

"I don't know," Sirius said honestly. "I'm guessing for your protection, but I really don't know, pup."

"And… where were you?" Harry asked.

"Er… well… I was in prison," Sirius admitted uncertainly. Was that the right thing to say to a seven year-old boy? He didn't really want to lie to Harry though…

Harry arched an eyebrow in a frankly quite scary impression of Lily. "Why?"

"Er, I was framed for murder and Dark magic," Sirius said.

"But you didn't actually do it?" Harry pressed.

"No," Sirius said. Would Harry believe him? Just like that?

"Okay," was all Harry said.

"Okay?" Sirius echoed. "You believe me?"

Harry looked up at him with big eyes. "You're the firs' person not to lie to me, Sir'us," he said seriously.

Sirius heart constricted. "Do you want to come with me, Harry?"

"Leave the Dursley's?" Harry asked, grinning in excitement. "Forever?"

"If you want," Sirius said, matching Harry's grin. What was he thinking?

"Yes!" Harry exclaimed.

"I haven't cleared my name," Sirius warned him. "It might be dangerous."

But that grin wasn't coming of Harry's face. "I don't care," he said. "I just wanna leave. I like you loads better than the Dursleys."

Sirius heart constricted again. Harry liked the first person to be kind to him more than the relatives he was living with. It was heart-wrenchingly familiar to Sirius own childhood. He definitely couldn't let Harry stay here. "Well," Sirius said lightly. "I am pretty likeable."

Harry giggled, pure joy shining on his face.

"Do you want to get anything?" Sirius asked. "Before we leave, I mean."

Harry paused a moment, glancing toward the stairwell, before shaking his head. "No, nothing."

Don't think about it, Sirius told himself. "Alright then," Sirius said, standing. "I'll just tell your aunt and uncle that we'll be leaving, and we'll be on our way."

Hearing a light shuffling on the other side of the door Dursley had disappeared into, Sirius grinned and held a finger up to his lips. Harry nodded, eyes wide, and shut his mouth. Very careful, Sirius reached for the door handle and twisted it gently. Then he jerked it open, stuck his head in, and shouted, "DURSLEY!"

Dursley screamed and fell backward like a huge potato.

"Oh, there you are," Sirius said sweetly. "Harry and I will be going, Dursley. Don't come looking for us. Don't tell anyone we've gone. If someone eventually comes looking for him just tell them that Sirius Black has him."

Dursley nodded, vigorously from the floor.

"Good, we won't be seeing you," Sirius said cheerfully. He ducked out of the room and turned back to Harry.

James and Lily's son was grinning like mad, looking absurdly pleased. Sirius grinned back and scooped Harry up into his arms.

"Bye, Uncle Vernon!" Harry called, waving cheerily from Sirius's arms.

"You cheeky little bugger, I like you," Sirius said chuckling.

Harry giggled again (Merlin, he was adorable), and Sirius strode out of 4 Privet Drive.

What in Merlin's name am I doing?! Sirius inwardly chided himself. I'm kidnapping my best friend's son!

It's not like James was watching over him, Sirius argued. Besides, Harry wanted to come.

This is still a bad idea! Sirius told himself. Then he grimaced. Great. Now he was arguing with himself. Azkaban had really made him a nutter.

"Sir'us," Harry said. "Where are we going?"

Sirius realized they were just standing on the sidewalk while he argued with himself. "Ah, I think we'll be going to Grimmauld Place. That's where I grew up. Do you know what apparating is?"

Harry shook his head.

"Of course you don't," Sirius said, inwardly scolding himself. "Well, just hold on tight, Harry, it's a bit uncomfortable."

Harry dutifully wrapped his little arms tightly around Sirius' neck.

What am I doing? Sirius wondered again as they apparated to Grimmauld Place.

This was a singularly stupid idea.

Author's note: Yes, I know the Sirius-raises-Harry thing had been done before, but I'm hoping to change things up a bit by throwing in a little Wrong Boy Who Lived, and some Sev and Draco, and a little multicrossover flair.

REALLY REALLY IMPORTANT: so, I've gotten a bunch of people saying it doesn't make sense that James doesn't know Sirius is innocent. Believe me, I know.I didn't ignore that part at all. I just didn't want to start this story in 1981. It'll be explained later. If you want to take issue with my explanation, go ahead, but please wait until then to point out the 'major plot-hole.' I got it, guys, don't worry. Thanks :)

Quick multi-crossover explanation: I will be taking characters from other books/movies/shows for the purpose of side-characters, and a few more important ones, but this is very much a Harry Potter story; Harry Potter's world, Harry Potter's main characters, Harry Potter's plot-line/story-line (slightly AU-ed). Secondly, I will be taking any extra characters out of context, at least partially, so they might be a little OOC since your context (environment) does contribute to your personality. But not to worry, you don't need to know anything about the fandom they are from to enjoy the story. I am completely integrating them into the Harry Potter world, so no need to worry. Lastly, those characters will be there to accommodate the story, not for the story to accommodate them, so please don't get too riled up if they're OOC, or not in the right house or whatever else, especially as I'll probably be using them to fill up Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw since we don't know as many of those students. And some may be mentioned purely for amusement. So. Yeah.

Also, feel free to Brit-pick anything in here. I am an American (in case you didn't get that from the pen name) so I don't know all the terms, though I've picked up a bit from reading fanficiton :D

I hope you all enjoyed! Sev and Draco are in the next chapter.