Chapter Summary: Severus says thanks, Sirius shows his heart, and the final bond completed...

Disclaimer: I don't own anything but my own ideas!

Now, with out further adu, the first book is complete, and though classes start next week, I plan on continuing my writing of this story. As I have mentioned in past chapter notes, there will be a total of three books, this is the first. The second will consist of all seven Hogwarts years, and their summers. the third and final book will be with the Avengers.

I hope you enjoy this last chapter!

UPDATED: 10/30/18

Vacation Before Hogwarts

Stark Manor, Malibu, California
August 15-26, 2001

The Potter-Stark-Prince-Malfoy household ignored the goings on at the London Gringotts Branch in favor of spending the rest of the summer with each other, bonding and becoming the family that they were starting to become.

Harry and Draco have become near inseparable. Draco had taken it upon himself to care for his mate during his healing. There were many days that Harry was unable to leave his bed, weak from the potions that he was given to strengthen his bones from his osteoporosis, but on the other days, he was up and about, swimming in the ocean and playing with his sister, in all but blood, and mate.

Draco didn't mind helping Harry when he could because it gave the two of them time to truly get to know each other, their hopes and dreams of the future, the family they both longed for. Though neither loved each other as mates, they both deeply cared for the other as best friends would.

As for Severus and Catlin, though they grew close, it was more of a mentor and mentee relationship. They grew close as Severus would answer her questions and teach her. He would tell her stories of their lost mate, Regulus, of when they were children in Hogwarts. Severus would also take time and tell Catlin and Harry of his mother before she left for Hogwarts and after they were sorted.

There were days on the beach below the mansion, that the large family would sit around a bon fire, eating s'mores and telling stories. It would be during this time the Severus, Remus, Lucius, Sirius, and Narcissa would tell the children and Tony about their days during Hogwarts. They would speak of pranks played and quidditch games won and lost. They would tell them of the time they sat on a stool and waited to be sorted and the things the hat spoke to them about, relieving their fears and nervousness.

August 24, 2001

~*Sev's POV*~

It was after the children had gone to bed when Severus approached Sirius. "Thank you, Black."

Both Remus and Sirius turned to him when he spoke. "Who are you and what have you done to our sour puss of a Potions Master?" Sirius asked, eyes wide in mock horror. Remus just rolled his eyes and shook his head at his antics.

"I'm here to have a conversation with you, Black. Will you act like the adult we all have hoped you'd become, or continue to act like a child?" Severus asked with a smirk at his word play. To him, he felt that he had masterfully avoided the word 'serious' to avoid the over used 'Sirius, serious' joke.

"Well done, Severus," Remus said with a chuckle, "Lily would be proud."

"Indeed," was all he said, waiting for Black to answer.

"Hardy har, har," was Sirius' reply. "So why the uncharacteristic 'thank you', Severus?"

"For not sugar coating your stories about the Marauders when telling stories of your antics. For telling him that you were bullies, if not in so many words."

Sirius ran his hands through his hair and sighed. "When Catlin and her Aunt showed up outside my cell, I thought I was dreaming. Here were two people, sticking their heads out for a loser like me, that went after a traitor for vengeance, instead of staying behind with my godson who had just lost his parents. I spent ten years in hell thinking about what I should have done, and what I did do. I made a vow to myself that if I was ever in Harry's life again, and sane, I would tell him the truth of my shitty childhood, and what an arse we were in school. No thanks are necessary Severus, I was just telling the truth for what it was," and with that, he turned and headed towards his room.

Severus blinked, then looked at Remus, "That wasn't why I was saying thank you."

"He knows that, and so do I, Severus. To be honest, I think he just needed to say that for himself, just as much for you. Azkaban is a nightmare. I know that Catlin helped him with his occlumency walls, but he still has nightmares, and having learned what Dumbledore did to Harry, it nearly broke him." Remus sat down and put his head in his hands. "I think you saying thank you made everything more real to him. He sees you with the kids, including Harry, and he is finally realizing that everything has changed. You, me, him especially. He grew up in a hell that no one wants to be in, and it's affected him more than you and I could ever really understand."

Severus nodded, understanding what Remus was telling him. It certainly made since, and after the first week with Sirius around full time and the two of them apologizing to each other for the shit they did in school, well, it's made them both better men, as well as more emotionally there than they were before with Harry.

"Did Harry ever tell you or Sirius what happened when I brought him to Gringotts so that I could take him school shopping?" Severus asked, as he moved over to the bar.

"He told us plenty, but what specifically are you asking about?" Remus asked.

"It was right after I was told that I was the Lord Apparent for the House of Prince, something Dumbledore had kept from me. As I was processing that, well Harry was in denial about being an heir himself. It's when I found out that Petunia," he spat the name with disgust, "told him that James was a drunk and Lily a whore and were killed in a car accident. I was furious…"

"She told him what?!" Remus shouted in a whisper, not wanting to wake the others.

"You heard me, Wolf. I won't repeat it. I had to tell him that they were murdered trying to protect him. That they died heroes. He was so confused, so lost in that moment. It broke my heart seeing him like that. With my anger at finding that out, I had shouted, and it scared him as well. I had to control myself before I could hurt him more than he already was."

Severus sighed and sat next to Remus. "I told him about Voldemort and the prophecy that was told that caused the Dark Lord to hunt him and his parents down, so that no one would be in his way to ruling the Wizarding world. I told him that they loved him so very much. In that moment, I didn't care that James and I were school enemies, or that he was Lily's son. All I cared about was this lost and confused little boy that new nothing of his parents and their sacrifice for him so that he could live.

"Then I showed him the mark that marred my arm and told him that it was I that told Voldemort about the part of the prophecy that I heard, and how much I regretted ever getting that thrice damned mark. Told him how I begged Dumbledore to protect the three of them, to keep them safe. He failed to do so. I then told him how it had been my fault that his parents were killed and that I had vowed to protect him even as Dumbledore told me that he was safe and loved, protected behind the strongest wards.

"It broke me to see the truth of Dumbledore's lies right in front of me and how much I had failed the boy and my vow," Severus turned and looked at Remus and asked, "Do you know what that wonderful boy did after I broke down in front of him and told him how it had all been my fault he was an orphan?"

He watched Remus shake his head, his eyes wide with shock at what he had just been told.

"He hugged me, comforted me, the man that was responsible for the death of his parents, and he says, 'It's ok. I forgive you'. Just like that, he forgave me. All I could do was hold onto him and cry. All of the guilt I held for the last ten years came out in tears all over his forgiving shoulders. Just like that, and what I did to him and James and Lily, was forgiven and forgotten. Forgotten in the since that we would both still remember but wouldn't talk about again unless it was something we both felt needed to be brought up, like now."

They both sat in silence after that, thinking about the wonders of a young boy who had lost everything and was still so forgiving, so kind.

"He never told us that," said a voice, broken and raw. You could hear the tears and sadness in that voice. Both Remus and Severus turned and looked at Sirius, who was standing just inside the door way that lead to the bedrooms. "He never told us about how he found out about his parent's death. He just said that he knew, and that was it. Not even Stark, Loki, or Catlin would say. He is so much like Lily that it's scary sometimes." He straightened up and turned to head back to his bedroom. "I don't know about the two of you but I'm exhausted, and tomorrow is going to be interesting. Harry said that he was going to finish his familiar bond seeing as he is nearly done with those potions and is much stronger to take Sarabi's venom."

Next Day: August 25, 2001

~*Harry's POV*~

Harry was excited. Today would be the day that he and Sarabi would complete the Familiar bond that the others already had. He had taken both Loki's and Severus' advice and waited until he was much stronger and wasn't on quite so many potions. With a week left before they went to King's Cross to board the Hogwart's Express, it would give them both time to adjust to their new bond.

They decided they would do it in the living room, with him on the couch, just in case he passed out during the process. Harry had even asked Catlin what it was like when she and Jasper, her jaguar cub, completed theirs.

~*~Flashback~*~

"Jupiter bit my hand, then licked it. It didn't hurt so much as it was unexpected. It was only a few moments later that we were speaking telepathically to each other. But I think with Sarabi, it will be different," she told him.

"How so?"

"Well, for one thing, she's has venom that is fatal to any who are bitten, and she will be injecting a tiny amount of said venom into your blood stream to complete the bond. It'll hurt like heck, but I'm sure it will be totally worth it in the end. It also gives you the ability to speak to her without using Parseltongue."

Harry had stared at her for what felt like ages, before turning to Sarabi, §Is that true?§ he asked curiously.

§Yesss, Hatchling, it isss. It won't kill you, it will jussst connect usss on a much deeper level. A level that only thossse who are sssuisssidal would think of breaking our bond.§

Harry had nodded at that and took comfort in knowing he would have Sarabi protecting him.

~*~End Flashback~*~

"Are you ready, Pup?" Uncle Sirius asked.

"Nervous, but I'm excited too." Harry told him. Sarabi rubbed her head against his cheek in silent comfort.

"There is nothing to fear, Little Fox." Loki said with a light chuckle.

Harry nodded and watched as Sarabi moved down his arm and settled into his lap, facing him. §It isss time, Hatchling. Are you ready for my bite?§

§Yess, Sssarabi, I am ready.§ he assured her. He closed his eyes and tilted his head, ready for her strike that would seal their bond. It was only moments before he felt the sting of the bite and seconds later, the effect of the venom. He let out a pained gasp and clenched his eyes closed, his hands fisting in the blanket on his lap.

"§Easssy, Hatchling, all isss well,§" Sarabi hissed gently in his ear as he laid down on the couch,"§Sssleep.§

Despite his muscles tensing every few minutes, Harry relaxed into the couch and felt the comforting weight of Sarabi on his chest before darkness took him over. Harry didn't know how long he slept, or how long he had had tremors for, but as he woke, he felt the presence of another in the back of his mind.

He moved slightly to get more comfortable as his mind whispered, µSarabi?µ

µI am here, Little Hatchling. You have done well, now ressst.µ

He let out a sigh before he let sleep overtake him once more, pleased that his familiar bond is complete and Sarabi would always be with him. µThank you, Sarabi.µ

Well, there it is! Please read and review!