AN: This is the fourth story in a series, preceded by Harry potter age 8, 9 and 10. This story can be read on its own, however things would make more sense if you had read the previous stories. Those stories start on the premise of Harry's guardians the Dursleys dying when Harry was eight, and he was placed in the care of Severus Snape. Snape started as a cruel and indifferent caregiver but evolved into a loving father, and actually adopted Harry at the end of Harry Potter age 9. In Harry Potter Age 10 Sirius Black chose to have himself regressed in age to age 10 again permanently, and so he is now a contemporary of Harry Potter with only a vague recollection of life as an adult before that. He is being cared for by Remus Lupin, who has also become a good friend of Snape's. For the past two years Harry (and several other major players) have participated in a pre-Hogwarts class at Hogwarts taught by Lupin.

This story takes place where the other one left off - right after Harry is sorted into Gryffindor. This story will be told from Sirius' perspective for the most part, though there will be a few chapters where Harry is star. Part of this story will be the exploring the ramifications of Snape's care of Harry had on the original plot (for instance, Peter Pettigrew is dead), and how Sirius will develop given a second chance at a childhood.

I will probably not update this story quite as quickly as others in the past (my family has registered complaints), but I can't see going more than two days without updating.

Trigger warnings: There will be some violence, talk of abuse, some coarse language, and parental spanking (corporal punishment) of pre-teens. I will not give chapter warnings of this, if this is not your cup of tea please read one of the other fics on this site that doesn't contain it. If you feel the need to abuse me because of it, please know that your comments will be deleted without heed.

Also, I do not own these characters and am forever indebted to JK Rowling for creating such a beautiful and detailed world that we're allowed to play in. I will not give chapter acknowledgement of this either, just assume that every chapter I will have characters that I don't own.

Sirius sat at the Gryffindor table for the first time, and had the surreal experience of doing it twice for the first time. Ever since he had been made ten years old again several months ago, he had tried to proceed with his life like he was ten while ignoring the vague, shadowy memories of what it was like to be an adult. He had been sorted once before, sat at this table for the first time once before, and had attended once before. Scanning the table with his fellow Gryffindors, he even speculated - how would it be different than last time? Harry and Ron weren't Moony and Prongs, that's for sure. He would have to see how this was going to work.

"I'm happy we're in Gryffindor together," Harry told him, his green eyes bright with excitement.

"Your Dad didn't look so pleased," Sirius smirked. "He looked ready to bloody shred that hat."

Harry shrugged noncommittally. "I'm sure he'd rather have me in Ravenclaw or Slytherin," he answered. "But last night he told me it didn't matter which one I went into."

"I still can't believe that you like having that bat as a father," Sirius admitted. "He's so strict and mean! At least Lupin is decent to me."

"Snape's decent too," Harry argued, but with mirth in his eyes. "But I see why you think he's strict. He is strict - but he also is fair most of the time and he really cares about me. And I don't think Lupin lets you off as much as you make out. I had him for a teacher for two years, I don't think he's easy."

"But I'm his old friend!" Sirius smirked. "Not really his son!"

"Hmmph," Harry answered, unbelieving. "I've seen him scold you. I think you need to accept the fact that his is your guardian now."

"Hmmph," Sirius replied, snarky.

"He's spanked you a few times too, hasn't he?" Harry asked appraisingly. "Your friend might scold you, but I doubt you ever had a friend spank you before."

Sirius blushed and looked away, not wanting to have this conversation with Harry. It was all well and good for Harry to have this attached thing with Snape, he decided. Harry needed a father, and if he liked Snape then whatever. But to imply that he needed it! Hmmph.

"So are you going to be sleeping in the tower with us then?" Fred asked Harry and Sirius. "You guys don't have to keep bunking with the old guys?"

"As long as we're good we can be up there," Harry answered with a smirk. "But I have a feeling I know what a possible consequence is going to be."

"Maybe if we pretend like we want to see them on the weekends they won't punish us that way," Sirius laughed, cheeky.

"I actually think it's great that we get to see them on weekends," Harry admitted. "I think it will be hard to live only in the tower. I'll miss him. But he says I can go have tea with him any time I want to."

"Come on!" Sirius rolled his eyes. "This is not bloody Kindergarten! Everyone else will only see their families on holidays."

"Well, they had a lot more years with their families before Hogwarts," Harry reasoned. "Besides, not everyone has a dad as cool as mine."

"You do know the git is hated," George told him, smirking. "Nobody would believe you that you even like your dad, let alone that he's cool."

"Bat of the dungeons," Fred agreed. "But we've decided to grant you temporary insanity."

"Of course it doesn't seem temporary . . ."

"Lay off it!" Harry glared at the twins, warning them. "Belt up about my Dad."

"Now, now, we know that ol' Snape's been great to you," Ron confirmed. "Despite how grouchy he is to everyone else. None of us argue that."

"Good," Harry growled.

"But you are a Gryffindor now," Sirius told him. "And Gryffindor has an old rivalry with Slytherin, and your Dad is the head of Slytherin. I'm just saying it will be awkward to have Harry running down to his quarters every other day."

"You have your guardian your way and I will my way," Harry snapped back at him, his green eyes blazing. "I'm glad to have such a smart and tough Dad, nobody messes with him. If you want to try him, go ahead."

"Nobody is stupid enough for that," George smirked again, this time picking up a chicken leg and tucking into it. "We're all Gryffindors here, now. Sirius, you seriously need to get a grip."

"And seriously need to watch your trap," Harry agreed, smirking.

"And seriously need to eat your dinner," Ron added, smirking.

"Very funny," Sirius glared at them, but his mouth was twitching. "And I've seriously never heard that joke before."

Harry's mouth twitched as well. "Well, Sirius, you may think that you don't need a Dad, but I think that your guardian doesn't agree with you."

Sirius looked up to see Lupin sitting with the other teachers, and glaring at him. He flinched involuntarily, he had been learning to respect his guardian against his better judgement. True, Lupin had once been one of his best friends. But Harry was right, though you might yell at your best friend you would never spank them. Or ground them. Or make them do extra chores and go to bed early. Sirius sighed, having an involved guardian had turned out to be harder than he thought it would be.

"Cheer up," Harry told him, watching his face closely. "At least you know he's better than you had the first time around."

"I had more freedom the first time around," Sirius shot back.

Harry, smirking in spite of himself, turned back to his dinner. "I know," he answered quietly.

Dumbledore welcomed the new students with his opening speech, and warnings about staying off of the third floor corridor. Hmm, Sirius thought. Gonna have to check that out.

Sirius looked over his new teachers, surprised that more hadn't changed. Professor Quirrell was new, but he thought that might be the only teacher he hadn't had before.

"Do you know anything about that Quirrell fellow?" Harry asked him quietly.

"Remus said that he's been travelling and has just gotten back," Sirius answered. "I guess that explains the turban. He's the defense against the dark arts teacher."

"He doesn't look too bad," Ron appraised. "He looks absolutely terrified of Snape, though."

"He looks like a stiff wind would knock him over, let alone some dark wizard or creature," Sirius scoffed. "I wouldn't think we would learn much from him."

"We probably already know more from our private lessons," Harry conceded. "But our Dads still want us in class."

"He's not my Dad, Harry," Sirius said darkly. "I've already had one of those, I'm not eager for another."

It was Harry's turn to roll his eyes. "The sooner you make peace with it the easier it will be," he said enigmatically. "But I guess some people have to learn for themselves."

They ate their dinner then, and Sirius watched Harry carefully. He kept looking at Quirrel with a puzzled look on his face, as if he was trying to work something out. Sirius decided he would ask Harry later, when there weren't so many scoffing ears around.

...

That night, Sirius was tucked into a room with the Gryffindor newbies - Ron, Harry, Neville, Seamus and Dean. He had been in this same room many years ago, this was the room when he had first began his friendship with what had become the marauders. This room felt more like home than any other place in the world to him.

"So are we all going to be mates?" Neville asked nervously. "I mean, we're all going to be in school together for the next seven years."

"We're Gryffindors," Sirius shrugged. "Last time I was here we became best friends. We called ourselves the Marauders."

"Can you buy us firewhiskey?" Seamus asked. "I mean, you being a legal adult and all."

"No dice," Sirius answered. "I'm legally a child."

"Do you remember the spell to make whiskey?" Seamus giggled. "That would be just as good."

"It's hard to make," Sirius answered, trying to remember. "I don't know if I remember or not. But I think most people think it's easier to buy it."

"Weren't the Marauders known for their pranks?" Harry asked him. "We need to do some epic pranks."

"Fred and George are quite good at it," Ron piped in. "I'm sure they'd love to help."

"Won't we get in trouble?" Neville asked nervously. "My Gran said that . . ."

"You Gran doesn't know shite," Sirius retorted sharply. "What's a little trouble? The worst they'll do is detention."

"I've heard in detention that Snape will cut off bits of you for potion ingredients and then, you know, magic you so it grows back," Ron told them. "It's how he saves money on ingredients."

"If that were true I'd have had most of my parts cut off!" Harry declared. "Seriously, Ron, you need to stop listening to the twins. They like nothing better than to wind you up."

"So what does he do for detention, then, smart arse?" Ron asked.

"Slughorn, the potions master before Snape, once made me gut flobberworms," Sirius remembered, smiling. "But most professors have you either do lines of some sort or cleaning." The flobberworms were for dropping something in someone else's cauldron and causing an explosion, he remembered vaguely.

"Hermione said that we have Potions, Transfiguration and flying lessons tomorrow," Harry told them. "I can't wait. After all these years of learning other things, we finally get to learn the fun stuff."

"Why do we have to take flying lessons?" Sirius scoffed. "Harry could practically teach it."

"Well, not everyone might know how as well," Neville said with chagrin. "I mean, we learned it in the preschool class, but I'm nowhere near as good as Harry."

"I'm not sure there's many seventh years as good as Harry," Ron laughed. "At least we'll get a chance to fly. Not all the first years went to the preschool class, so some people won't know how to do it."

"Settle down in here," they heard Percy order them. "You want to be awake for your classes tomorrow."

"I can't believe Percy's a prefect," Ron groaned. "He's going to be insufferable."

"Maybe you'll get off a bit," Sirius suggested.

"Na, I'll get it worse," Ron answered. "Percy is more likely to tell my mum, and I'd rather a detention than a spoon."

"I think Sirius and I are going to catch it too," Harry sighed, whispering so Percy wouldn't hear. "The disadvantage to having our fathers work here."

"He's not my bloody father!" Sirius snapped irritably. "I swear, Harry . . ."

"Now," Percy snapped. "Or I'll call McGonagall."

The boys settled down, curling into their soft beds and trying to calm down their excitement. Each of them had a mix of excitement, anxiety, and homesickness. All except Sirius, he felt like this was his home.

SIrius drifted off to sleep, thinking of his lessons the next day and quidditch practices, and it felt like everything was right with the world.

Then, in the wee hours of the morning, Sirius woke up from a nightmare, cold sweat covering his body and his heart pounding in terror. He took several breaths before he could calm himself down, trying to tell himself that it was just a dream. But he knew better, he had a sense that it wasn't just a dream. What the hell was Bella doing in his dream?